# CVE-2013-2852: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local attackers with root access can exploit a format string vulnerability in the Broadcom B43 wireless driver to escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.9 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Jun 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2013-2852, GHSA-jrj6-vfj7-prcf

## What is CVE-2013-2852?

CVE-2013-2852 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 7 Jun 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Format string vulnerability in the b43_request_firmware function in drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c in the Broadcom B43 wireless driver in the Linux kernel through 3.9.4 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging root access and including format string specifiers in an fwpostfix modprobe parameter, leading to improper construction of an error message.

Weakness: CWE-134 (Use of Externally-Controlled Format String)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-2852?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-2852?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2013-2852 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-2852 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Linux Kernel 3.3.5 - 'b43' Wireless Driver Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-2852 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-2852 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 7 Jun 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-2852 exists.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2852/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2852/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-2852
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-2852
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-2852

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2852/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.