CVE-1999-0875 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
DHCP clients with ICMP Router Discovery Protocol (IRDP) enabled allow remote attackers to modify their default routes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-0875 represents a significant security flaw in network infrastructure protocols that affects DHCP clients implementing ICMP Router Discovery Protocol functionality. This issue stems from the fundamental design assumption that network routing information exchanged via ICMP messages can be trusted without proper validation mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in systems where DHCP clients automatically accept router advertisements from any source that responds to IRDP queries, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to manipulate network traffic routing decisions.
The technical flaw manifests when a DHCP client with IRDP enabled receives router advertisement messages from unauthorized sources. These messages contain routing information that the client automatically accepts and applies to its routing table, effectively allowing attackers to redirect network traffic through malicious intermediate points. The vulnerability specifically exploits the lack of authentication and validation checks in the IRDP implementation, where the protocol assumes that any responding router advertisement is legitimate. This design flaw directly maps to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues, as the protocol lacks proper integrity verification mechanisms for routing information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to encompass serious security implications including man-in-the-middle attacks, traffic interception, and potential data exfiltration. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect sensitive network communications through compromised network nodes, effectively creating backdoors for continued access. Network administrators may experience unexpected routing behavior, failed network connections, and compromised network security posture. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where network security is not properly segmented, as attackers can leverage this weakness to move laterally within networks and establish persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-1999-0875 should focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms for router advertisements, disabling IRDP functionality where it is not strictly required, and employing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks. Organizations should configure DHCP clients to validate router advertisement sources through cryptographic means or network access controls. The implementation of network intrusion detection systems that monitor for anomalous router advertisement traffic can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Additionally, following ATT&CK framework techniques for network defense and credential access can help organizations better protect against such vulnerabilities. Security policies should mandate disabling IRDP on client systems unless specifically required for network functionality, as this represents the most effective immediate mitigation strategy.