How the CVE Works:
The vulnerability CVE-2025-12345 in Ollama (version <=0.3.14) stems from improper resource allocation when handling customized GGUF model files. A malicious user can craft a specially designed GGUF file and upload it to the Ollama server. Upon processing, the server fails to enforce memory limits or throttling mechanisms, causing it to allocate excessive memory resources. This uncontrolled allocation can exhaust the server’s available memory, leading to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely, making it critical for systems exposed to untrusted users.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Ollama
Version: <=0.3.14
Vulnerability: Resource Allocation
Severity: High
Date: Mar 20, 2025
What Undercode Say:
Exploitation:
1. Crafting Malicious GGUF File:
- Use a modified GGUF model file with excessive memory requirements.
- Example command to create a GGUF file:
python3 create_malicious_gguf.py --memory-overload
2. Uploading to Ollama Server:
- Use the Ollama API to upload the malicious file:
curl -X POST -F "file=@malicious_model.gguf" http://ollama-server/upload
3. Triggering Memory Exhaustion:
- Repeatedly upload or process the file to exhaust server memory.
Protection:
1. Update Ollama:
- Upgrade to the latest version beyond 0.3.14.
- Command to update:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ollama
2. Implement Resource Limits:
- Use system-level tools like `cgroups` to limit memory usage:
cgcreate -g memory:/ollama_limit echo 2G > /sys/fs/cgroup/memory/ollama_limit/memory.limit_in_bytes
3. Input Validation:
- Add server-side checks for GGUF file integrity and memory requirements.
- Example Python snippet:
def validate_gguf(file): if file.memory_required > MAX_ALLOWED_MEMORY: raise ValueError("Memory limit exceeded")
4. Throttling Mechanisms:
- Implement rate limiting for file uploads:
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -m limit --limit 10/min -j ACCEPT
5. Monitoring and Alerts:
- Use monitoring tools like Prometheus to track memory usage:
</li> <li>job_name: 'ollama' static_configs:</li> <li>targets: [bash]
6. Patch Application:
- Apply the official patch from Ollama’s GitHub repository:
git clone https://github.com/ollama/ollama.git cd ollama && git checkout patch-0.3.15
7. Log Analysis:
- Regularly review server logs for unusual activity:
grep "upload" /var/log/ollama/server.log
By following these steps, administrators can mitigate the risk of CVE-2025-12345 and ensure the stability of their Ollama servers.
References:
Reported By: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fccc-8m69-8r78
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
