CVE-1999-1373 in PowerHub
Summary
by MITRE
FORE PowerHub before 5.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (hang) via a TCP SYN scan with TCP/IP OS fingerprinting, e.g. via nmap.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-1373 affects FORE PowerHub network equipment running software versions prior to 5.0.1. This issue represents a classic denial of service weakness that exploits the device's handling of TCP connection requests during network scanning activities. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the PowerHub device encounters a TCP SYN scan combined with TCP/IP OS fingerprinting techniques commonly employed by network reconnaissance tools such as nmap. The affected system becomes unresponsive and enters a state of operational hang, effectively rendering the network equipment non-functional and disrupting legitimate network services.
The technical flaw resides in the PowerHub's TCP/IP stack implementation where it fails to properly handle malformed or aggressive TCP connection attempts. During a TCP SYN scan, the scanning tool sends SYN packets to multiple ports on the target device without completing the TCP three-way handshake. When combined with OS fingerprinting techniques, these scans attempt to determine the operating system of the target device by analyzing responses to specific packet combinations. The PowerHub's network stack lacks proper validation and timeout mechanisms for handling such scanning patterns, causing it to become stuck in processing these malformed requests indefinitely. This behavior constitutes a weakness under CWE-400, which categorizes unchecked resource consumption as a significant security concern affecting system availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network infrastructure reliability. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the affected PowerHub device becomes unresponsive and must be manually rebooted to restore functionality. This creates a window of network downtime that could be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt business operations or gain unauthorized access to the network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered remotely without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for automated scanning tools that continuously probe networks for exploitable devices. Network administrators may experience significant operational challenges when such devices are deployed in critical network infrastructure environments where uptime is essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates to version 5.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the TCP stack processing issues. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of vulnerable devices to external scanning activities. Network monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual TCP scanning patterns and alert administrators to potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and connection tracking mechanisms can help prevent the vulnerable device from becoming overwhelmed by malicious scanning traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in network infrastructure devices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.002 which covers network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure components. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in network equipment to maintain overall network security posture and ensure compliance with industry security standards.