CVE-2024-37676 is a vulnerability identified in htop-dev version 2.20, a popular interactive process viewer for Unix-like systems. The flaw exists in the Header_populateFromSettings function, where improper bounds checking leads to an out-of-bounds memory access. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). An attacker with local access can exploit this vulnerability without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it easier to trigger. The out-of-bounds access can corrupt memory, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause a denial-of-service by crashing the application or the host system. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.4, indicating high severity, with impacts rated high on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits or patches are currently available, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to systems running vulnerable versions of htop-dev, especially in environments where local user access is possible. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used system monitoring tool increases its potential impact, as htop is often used by system administrators and developers.

The vulnerability allows a local attacker to cause out-of-bounds memory access, which can lead to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or denial-of-service conditions. This compromises system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Since htop is commonly used on Linux servers and workstations, exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges or disrupt critical system monitoring functions. This could impact enterprise environments, cloud infrastructure, and development systems, potentially leading to broader system compromise or operational disruption. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation by any local user, increasing the risk in multi-user environments or shared hosting scenarios.

1. Immediately restrict local access to systems running htop-dev 2.20 to trusted users only until a patch is available. 2. Monitor system logs for unusual crashes or behavior related to htop usage. 3. Employ mandatory access controls (e.g., SELinux, AppArmor) to limit htop’s capabilities and prevent exploitation of memory corruption. 4. Use containerization or sandboxing techniques to isolate htop processes from critical system components. 5. Regularly check for updates from the htop development team and apply patches promptly once released. 6. Conduct internal audits to identify all systems running vulnerable htop versions and prioritize remediation. 7. Educate local users about the risks of running untrusted code or commands with htop privileges. 8. Consider alternative process monitoring tools without this vulnerability until a fix is available.