CVE-2024-9143
📋 TL;DR
This OpenSSL vulnerability allows out-of-bounds memory reads/writes when using low-level GF(2^m) elliptic curve APIs with untrusted explicit field polynomial values. It primarily affects applications using 'exotic' explicit binary curve parameters rather than standard named curves. Remote code execution is theoretically possible but unlikely in practice due to encoding limitations.
💻 Affected Systems
- OpenSSL
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise
Likely Case
Application crash or denial of service
If Mitigated
No impact when using standard named curves or X9.62 encoding
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires specific conditions: using exotic curve encoding with invalid field polynomials having zero constant term
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patched in commits referenced in CVE (specific release versions not provided)
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commits
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Identify OpenSSL version
2. Update to latest patched version
3. Restart affected services
4. Recompile applications if statically linked
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Avoid explicit curve parameters
allUse only named curves instead of explicit GF(2^m) curve parameters
Validate curve parameters
allImplement validation to reject field polynomials with zero constant term
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable support for explicit GF(2^m) curve parameters in application configuration
- Implement input validation to reject problematic field polynomials before passing to OpenSSL APIs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if application uses EC_GROUP_new_curve_GF2m(), EC_GROUP_new_from_params(), or BN_GF2m_*() functions with untrusted explicit curve parametersCheck Version:
openssl versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify OpenSSL version includes the referenced commit hashes or is from a release after the patches📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Segmentation faults or crashes in applications using elliptic curve cryptography
- Memory access violation errors
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected termination of TLS/SSL connections using custom curves
SIEM Query:
Search for process crashes with OpenSSL libraries or applications using EC cryptography🔗 References
- https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/72ae83ad214d2eef262461365a1975707f862712
- https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/bc7e04d7c8d509fb78fc0e285aa948fb0da04700
- https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/c0d3e4d32d2805f49bec30547f225bc4d092e1f4
- https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/fdf6723362ca51bd883295efe206cb5b1cfa5154
- https://github.openssl.org/openssl/extended-releases/commit/8efc0cbaa8ebba8e116f7b81a876a4123594d86a
- https://github.openssl.org/openssl/extended-releases/commit/9d576994cec2b7aa37a91740ea7e680810957e41
- https://openssl-library.org/news/secadv/20241016.txt
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/10/16/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/10/23/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/10/24/1
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00033.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/11/msg00000.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20241101-0001/
