CVE-2002-1322 in ClearCase
Summary
by MITRE
Rational ClearCase 4.1, 2002.05, and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via certain packets to port 371, e.g. via nmap.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1322 affects Rational ClearCase versions 4.1 and 2002.05, representing a significant security flaw in IBM's version control system that has persisted for over two decades. This issue manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can be triggered through malformed network packets sent to port 371, which is the default port used by ClearCase for its distributed file system communications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ClearCase server process, specifically in how it handles incoming network requests destined for the ClearCase Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service. When an attacker sends specially crafted packets to this port, the system fails to properly process the malformed data and subsequently crashes or becomes unresponsive, effectively denying legitimate users access to the version control system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and demonstrates how insufficient validation can lead to system instability. The flaw operates at the network protocol level where ClearCase's RPC implementation does not adequately sanitize incoming data streams, creating a pathway for remote attackers to disrupt services without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the target system, regardless of their authorization status within the ClearCase environment. The use of nmap as a tool to trigger the vulnerability demonstrates the accessibility of this exploit, as nmap's network scanning capabilities can easily be adapted to send the malicious packets required to cause the service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1322 extends beyond simple service disruption, as ClearCase is a critical component in many enterprise software development environments where version control and source code management are essential. When the system crashes due to this vulnerability, it can halt development workflows, prevent code check-ins, and potentially cause data loss if the crash occurs during active operations. Organizations relying on ClearCase for their development processes face significant operational risks, as the vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to create service outages that may last until system administrators manually restart the ClearCase services. The attack vector's accessibility means that automated scanning tools can easily identify vulnerable systems and exploit them without requiring specialized knowledge or access credentials, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt business operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing network-level protections such as firewall rules that restrict access to port 371 from unauthorized networks, particularly when the ClearCase server is not directly exposed to the internet. Organizations should also consider disabling the ClearCase RPC service if it is not essential for their operations, or implementing network segmentation to isolate the ClearCase servers from general network traffic. The vulnerability's age suggests that many affected systems may not be receiving security updates from IBM, making proactive network security measures critical. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns on port 371 can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities in legacy systems. The remediation approach should also involve updating to supported versions of ClearCase where possible, though many organizations may need to maintain legacy systems for compatibility reasons, necessitating additional protective measures such as intrusion detection systems and regular security audits to maintain operational continuity.