CVE-2003-0849 in cfengine
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in net.c for cfengine 2.x before 2.0.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain packets with modified length values, which is trusted by the ReceiveTransaction function when using a buffer provided by the BusyWithConnection function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0849 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the cfengine 2.x software suite, specifically in the net.c file affecting versions prior to 2.0.8. This security weakness arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize packet length values received from network connections. The vulnerability manifests when the ReceiveTransaction function processes packets that contain modified length fields, which are subsequently trusted without proper bounds checking. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it occurs during the processing of network traffic, allowing remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability from outside the local network perimeter.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from the BusyWithConnection function's allocation of network buffers without proper validation of incoming packet headers. When the ReceiveTransaction function processes these packets, it uses the length values contained within the packet structure to determine buffer boundaries for data reception. This trust-based approach creates a scenario where malicious actors can craft packets with oversized length fields that exceed the allocated buffer size, leading to memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it provides remote code execution capabilities to authenticated or unauthenticated attackers. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted packets with modified length values that cause the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the cfengine process, potentially compromising the entire system. The vulnerability affects network-based services that rely on cfengine for configuration management, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where configuration management is critical for system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected cfengine installations to version 2.0.8 or later, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to cfengine ports and consider network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Additionally, monitoring for unusual packet patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling remote code execution through network-based attacks and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top 10. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other network services and applications that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow attacks.