CVE-2024-52949 Overview
CVE-2024-52949 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in iptraf-ng version 1.2.1, a console-based network monitoring utility for Linux. The flaw resides in src/ifaces.c, where calls to strcpy operate without size validation. An attacker who controls the input copied into a fixed-size stack buffer can overflow adjacent memory, corrupting return addresses or saved registers. The defect is classified under CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input). Successful exploitation results in process termination or potential control-flow hijacking on systems running the affected version.
Critical Impact
Unbounded strcpy usage in src/ifaces.c enables stack memory corruption, leading to denial of service and possible arbitrary code execution.
Affected Products
- iptraf-ng 1.2.1
- Linux distributions packaging iptraf-ng 1.2.1
- Network monitoring deployments relying on the affected build
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-16 - CVE-2024-52949 published to NVD
- 2025-10-14 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-52949
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability sits in src/ifaces.c, the interface enumeration module of iptraf-ng. The code uses strcpy to copy network interface name strings into fixed-size stack-allocated buffers without verifying source length. The C standard library strcpy function copies bytes until it encounters a null terminator, which makes it unsafe whenever the source length is not strictly bounded.
When the source string exceeds the destination buffer size, the write continues past the buffer boundary, overwriting the saved frame pointer and return address on the stack. This corruption breaks the function's epilogue and can redirect execution flow when the function returns.
Root Cause
The root cause is the consistent use of strcpy in src/ifaces.c without an accompanying length check. Safer alternatives such as strncpy, strlcpy, or snprintf with an explicit size argument are not used. Any code path supplying an attacker-influenced interface name longer than the destination buffer triggers memory corruption [CWE-120].
Attack Vector
The NVD record characterizes the attack vector as network with low complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. Exploitation depends on delivering an oversized interface identifier into the vulnerable code path. The confirmed impact is on availability, with the process crashing on buffer corruption. Refer to the iptraf-ng GitHub release v1.2.1 and the Gruppo TIM Red Team advisory page for technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52949
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or SIGSEGV events from the iptraf-ng process on monitoring hosts.
- Core dumps generated by iptraf-ng referencing corrupted stack frames or invalid return addresses.
- Audit log entries showing iptraf-ng execution with unusually long network interface name arguments.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Linux hosts running iptraf-ng and verify the installed version against 1.2.1.
- Monitor for abnormal termination signals generated by iptraf-ng using auditd rules on the binary path.
- Inspect process command lines and environment for excessively long interface name strings passed to iptraf-ng.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward auditd, journald, and kernel crash logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation.
- Alert on repeated iptraf-ng crash loops, which may indicate exploitation attempts.
- Track package manager events that install or upgrade iptraf-ng across the fleet.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52949
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify and inventory all systems with iptraf-ng 1.2.1 installed.
- Restrict execution of iptraf-ng to trusted administrators and avoid running it against attacker-controlled input.
- Apply distribution updates as soon as a patched package becomes available from the upstream iptraf-ng project.
Patch Information
No fixed version is referenced in the NVD record at the time of writing. Monitor the iptraf-ng GitHub repository for a release that replaces the unbounded strcpy calls in src/ifaces.c with length-checked alternatives, and track your Linux distribution's security advisories for backported fixes.
Workarounds
- Remove or disable iptraf-ng 1.2.1 on hosts where it is not required.
- Limit invocation of the tool to interactive administrative sessions with vetted interface names.
- Apply mandatory access control profiles (AppArmor, SELinux) to constrain the binary's privileges and reduce post-exploitation impact.
# Configuration example: locate and remove the affected package
dpkg -l | grep iptraf-ng
sudo apt-get remove --purge iptraf-ng
# For RPM-based distributions
rpm -qa | grep iptraf-ng
sudo dnf remove iptraf-ng
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
