CVE-2002-2003 in Tru64
Summary
by MITRE
ypbind in Compaq Tru64 4.0F, 4.0G, 5.0A, 5.1 and 5.1A allows remote attackers to cause the process to core dump via certain network packets generated by nmap.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2003 affects the ypbind service component within Compaq Tru64 operating system versions 4.0F, 4.0G, 5.0A, 5.1, and 5.1A. This represents a significant security flaw in the Network Information Service (NIS) implementation that could be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt system operations. The ypbind service is responsible for binding NIS clients to NIS servers, making it a critical component in distributed network environments where name service resolution is required. The vulnerability specifically targets the network packet processing logic within this service, creating a potential denial of service condition that could result in system instability and service disruption.
The technical flaw manifests when the ypbind service processes certain malformed network packets generated by network scanning tools such as nmap. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation, which is classified as CWE-20 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability exploits a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the packet parsing routines of ypbind, where the service fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming network data. When nmap or similar tools send crafted packets designed to trigger this condition, the ypbind process becomes vulnerable to memory corruption that ultimately leads to a core dump. This core dump represents a system crash condition where the operating system generates a memory dump file to aid in debugging, but in this context serves as an indicator of service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it creates opportunities for attackers to systematically disrupt network services and potentially gain insights into system configurations. The ability to cause core dumps remotely means that attackers can repeatedly trigger this condition to disrupt NIS services across the network, affecting multiple systems that depend on proper name resolution services. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where Tru64 systems are deployed for mission-critical applications, as the disruption of NIS services can cascade into broader system failures affecting authentication, file sharing, and other network-dependent services. The attack vector through nmap indicates that this vulnerability could be easily discovered and exploited by automated scanning tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments with active network monitoring or penetration testing activities.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Tru64 systems with the appropriate security updates provided by Compaq or HP, as these systems were later acquired by HP and received security updates through their support channels. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to ypbind services from untrusted networks, limiting the attack surface. Additionally, implementing network monitoring to detect unusual packet patterns or scanning activities can help identify potential exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and robust error handling in network services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services and T1499 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on nmap scanning patterns that may lead to exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in network services.