CVE-2002-0609 in MPE-iX
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in HP MPE/iX 6.0 through 7.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (system failure with "SA1457 out of i_port_timeout.fix_up_message_frame") via malformed IP packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0609 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Hewlett-Packard's MPE/iX operating system versions 6.0 through 7.0. This flaw specifically targets the network protocol stack implementation and manifests when the system encounters malformed IP packets. The error condition triggers a system failure characterized by the specific error message "SA1457 out of i_port_timeout.fix_up_message_frame" which indicates a timeout issue within the i-port communication mechanism. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where the operating system fails to properly handle malformed packet structures, leading to a complete system crash or unresponsiveness.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability exploits the insufficient input validation mechanisms within the MPE/iX network stack implementation. The system's failure handling routine becomes overwhelmed when processing malformed IP packets that do not conform to standard network protocol specifications. The i-port timeout mechanism, which is designed to manage communication timeouts between network components, becomes corrupted when encountering these malformed packets, causing the system to enter an unrecoverable state. This represents a classic buffer over-read or improper state handling scenario where the system cannot gracefully recover from malformed input data. The vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and also aligns with CWE-248, indicating an exception not caught by the application. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices in network protocol handling where insufficient error checking allows malformed data to cause system-wide failures rather than simply dropping the problematic packets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to complete system outages in environments where MPE/iX serves as a critical infrastructure component. Organizations running these legacy systems face significant risk of unauthorized denial of service attacks that could render their network services unavailable for extended periods. The vulnerability particularly affects systems that handle high volumes of network traffic or those that do not implement proper network segmentation and filtering. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply sending carefully crafted malformed IP packets to target systems, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute successful attacks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where system availability is paramount. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to disrupt services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate network-level protections combined with system updates where available. Organizations should implement robust network filtering at perimeter devices to drop malformed IP packets before they reach affected systems, utilizing access control lists and packet inspection rules. The most effective long-term solution involves applying HP's security patches and updates for MPE/iX versions 6.0 through 7.0, which typically include improved input validation and enhanced error handling routines. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual packet patterns and automatically trigger alerts when malformed traffic is detected. Additionally, maintaining detailed system logs and implementing proper incident response procedures will help organizations quickly identify and respond to exploitation attempts. Given the age of this vulnerability and the legacy nature of MPE/iX systems, organizations should also evaluate migration paths to modern operating systems to eliminate exposure to such historical weaknesses while ensuring compliance with current cybersecurity standards and regulatory requirements.