CVE-2002-0237 in BlackICE
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ISS BlackICE Defender 2.9 and earlier, BlackICE Agent 3.0 and 3.1, and RealSecure Server Sensor 6.0.1 and 6.5 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a flood of large ICMP ping packets.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0237 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple security products from ISS (Internet Security Systems) including BlackICE Defender 2.9 and earlier versions, BlackICE Agent 3.0 and 3.1, and RealSecure Server Sensor 6.0.1 and 6.5. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the network monitoring and intrusion detection components of these security solutions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when these systems process ICMP ping packets that exceed normal size parameters, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's memory space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers stack-based buffer overflow scenarios. The flaw occurs because the affected software components fail to properly validate the size of incoming ICMP packets before processing them, allowing malicious actors to craft specially sized packets that exceed the allocated buffer space. When these oversized packets are received, the system's memory management routines become corrupted, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes and potential code execution. The vulnerability operates at the network layer, specifically targeting the ICMP protocol handling mechanisms within the security monitoring infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on these security tools for network protection, as it can be exploited remotely to cause denial of service conditions that effectively disable critical security monitoring capabilities. The potential for arbitrary code execution adds an additional layer of risk, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain control of the affected systems and potentially use them as launch points for further attacks within the network. The impact is particularly severe because these tools are designed to monitor and protect network traffic, making their compromise a critical security event that could leave networks vulnerable to other threats while the systems are being exploited.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions from ISS, which would contain proper input validation and buffer size checking mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these systems to untrusted networks. Network administrators should consider implementing rate limiting and ICMP packet filtering rules to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in security software, as these tools are often targets for exploitation due to their privileged positions within network infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their network monitoring tools to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.