Severity: MEDIUM
Description: C/sorting/binary_insertion_sort.c in The Algorithms - C through e5dad3f has a segmentation fault for deep recursion, which may affect common use cases such as sorting an array of 50 elements.
CVSS Score: N/A
D
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1. Risk Assessment
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-38443 is a stack-based buffer overflow issue in the binary insertion sort algorithm implementation within The Algorithms - C repository. This flaw arises due to deep recursion, which can lead to a segmentation fault when sorting arrays of moderate size, such as 50 elements. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.2 (Medium severity) indicates a local attack vector with low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction. The primary impact is on availability, as the segmentation fault can cause the application to crash, disrupting functionality. While there is no direct impact on confidentiality or integrity, the crash could be leveraged in denial-of-service (DoS) scenarios or as part of a larger attack chain. The EPSS score of 0.00043 suggests a low likelihood of exploitation in the wild, but the presence of a proof-of-concept (PoC) increases the risk slightly. The vulnerability is not currently associated with ransomware or widespread exploitation, but its impact on availability makes it a concern for systems relying on this sorting algorithm.
2. Potential Attack Scenarios
An attacker with local access to a system using the vulnerable binary insertion sort implementation could exploit this flaw to cause a denial-of-service condition. The attack vector involves feeding a specially crafted array of approximately 50 elements to the sorting function, triggering deep recursion and a subsequent segmentation fault. This would crash the application, disrupting its functionality. In a multi-user environment, this could affect other users relying on the same system or service. While the immediate impact is limited to availability, repeated exploitation could degrade system performance or be used as a distraction while other attacks are carried out. Additionally, if the vulnerable code is part of a critical system, such as a sorting service used in financial or healthcare applications, the crash could lead to operational downtime, data loss, or compliance issues.
3. Mitigation Recommendations
Immediate action should be taken to address this vulnerability. Developers using The Algorithms - C repository should update to a patched version of the code, if available, or implement a workaround to limit recursion depth in the binary insertion sort algorithm. For systems already deployed with the vulnerable code, consider replacing the binary insertion sort with a non-recursive sorting algorithm or implementing input validation to restrict the size of arrays being processed. Monitor the GitHub repository for updates and patches, and review the issue thread at https://github.com/TheAlgorithms/C/issues/1394 for community-driven solutions. Additionally, conduct a thorough code review to identify and address similar recursion-related vulnerabilities in other parts of the codebase. For organizations using this code in production, consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect and mitigate segmentation faults caused by deep recursion.
4. Executive Summary
CVE-2024-38443 is a medium-severity vulnerability in the binary insertion sort algorithm within The Algorithms - C repository. It can cause applications to crash when sorting moderately sized arrays, leading to potential denial-of-service conditions. While the likelihood of exploitation is currently low, the availability impact poses a risk to systems relying on this code. Immediate action is recommended to mitigate the vulnerability, including updating the code, implementing workarounds, and monitoring for patches. Addressing this issue is critical to maintaining system stability and preventing operational disruptions, particularly in environments where sorting functionality is mission-critical.