CVE-2002-0780 in BorderManager
Summary
by MITRE
IP/IPX gateway for Novell BorderManager 3.6 SP 1a allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a connection to port 8225 with a large amount of random data, which causes ipipxgw.nlm to ABEND.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0780 affects the IP/IPX gateway component of Novell BorderManager 3.6 Service Pack 1a, specifically targeting the ipipxgw.nlm module responsible for handling network protocol translations between internet protocol and internetwork packet exchange. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests through improper input validation when processing network connections on port 8225. The vulnerability operates at the network transport layer where the gateway service fails to adequately sanitize incoming data streams, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered by remote attackers without authentication requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the ipipxgw.nlm module which processes incoming connections on the designated port. When an attacker establishes a connection to port 8225 and transmits a large volume of random data, the gateway service attempts to process this malformed input without proper data length validation. This failure in input sanitization causes the module to exceed its allocated memory buffers, resulting in an abrupt termination or system crash known as an ABEND condition. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and compromise system stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire network gateway functionality. When the ipipxgw.nlm module abends, it creates a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate network traffic from traversing the IP/IPX gateway, effectively isolating network segments and disrupting business operations. Network administrators may experience complete loss of connectivity between ip and ipx networks until the affected service is manually restarted or the system is rebooted. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations relying on Novell BorderManager for network segmentation and protocol translation, where the gateway service serves as a critical infrastructure component for maintaining connectivity between different network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0780 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Novell to address the underlying buffer overflow condition in the ipipxgw.nlm module. Organizations should implement network segmentation measures to restrict access to port 8225 from untrusted networks and consider firewall rules that limit the volume of data that can be transmitted to this specific port. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, highlighting the importance of implementing robust network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious traffic patterns targeting this specific port. Additionally, network administrators should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in legacy network services and implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent similar issues from occurring in other network components.