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OpenSSL contains null-pointer assignment in do_change_cipher_spec() function

Vulnerability Note VU#288574

Original Release Date: 2004-03-17 | Last Revised: 2004-03-26

Overview

OpenSSL contains a null-pointer assignment in the do_change_cipher_spec() function which could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to cause OpenSSL to crash.

Description

OpenSSL implements the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols and includes a general purpose cryptographic library. SSL and TLS are commonly used to provide authentication, encryption, integrity, and non-repudiation services to network applications such as HTTP, IMAP, POP3, LDAP, and others.

Versions of OpenSSL from 0.9.6c to 0.9.6k inclusive and 0.9.7a to 0.9.7c inclusive contain a null-pointer assignment in the do_change_cipher_spec() function. By sending a specially crafted SSL/TLS handshake to an application that uses a vulnerable OpenSSL library, a remote, unauthenticated attacker could cause OpenSSL to crash.

Further information is available in an advisory from OpenSSL and NISCC/224012/OpenSSL/1.

Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker could cause a denial of service in an application that uses OpenSSL.

Solution

Upgrade or Patch
Upgrade to OpenSSL 0.9.7d or 0.9.6m. Alternatively, upgrade or apply a patch as specified by your vendor. Note that it is necessary to recompile any applications that are statically linked to OpenSSL libraries.

Vendor Information

288574
 

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CVSS Metrics

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References

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was discovered by the OpenSSL Project and reported by the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC).

This document was written by Damon Morda.

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2004-0079
Severity Metric: 27.38
Date Public: 2004-03-17
Date First Published: 2004-03-17
Date Last Updated: 2004-03-26 21:58 UTC
Document Revision: 25

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