CVE-2004-0164 in Racoon
Summary
by MITRE
KAME IKE daemon (racoon) does not properly handle hash values, which allows remote attackers to delete certificates via (1) a certain delete message that is not properly handled in isakmp.c or isakmp_inf.c, or (2) a certain INITIAL-CONTACT message that is not properly handled in isakmp_inf.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2024
The CVE-2004-0164 vulnerability affects the KAME IKE daemon implementation known as racoon which is a critical component in IPsec security infrastructure. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of hash values within the IKE protocol implementation, specifically in the isakmp.c and isakmp_inf.c source files. The flaw represents a significant security weakness in the Internet Key Exchange protocol stack that governs secure communication between IPsec peers. The vulnerability impacts systems using the KAME implementation of racoon as their IKE daemon, particularly those implementing IPsec for secure network communications. The issue manifests when the daemon encounters specific delete messages or INITIAL-CONTACT messages that are not properly validated or processed, creating potential attack vectors for remote adversaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of IKE protocol messages that should be properly authenticated and handled by the racoon daemon. When processing certain delete messages, the isakmp.c module fails to adequately validate the hash values associated with these messages, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can trigger certificate deletion operations. Similarly, the INITIAL-CONTACT message handling in isakmp_inf.c contains insufficient validation logic that permits attackers to inject malformed messages capable of deleting certificate entries from the daemon's certificate store. This improper handling of cryptographic hash values constitutes a direct violation of proper input validation principles and represents a classic example of insufficient validation of cryptographic signatures in security protocols. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues including improper handling of hash values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple certificate deletion, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks within IPsec environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially disrupt secure communications by removing certificates required for authentication, leading to service disruption or unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where IPsec is used for site-to-site connections, remote access, or any scenario requiring secure key exchange and certificate management. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or elevated privileges. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1071.004 technique for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and potentially T1566 for Phishing with Social Engineering, as the attack could be part of broader network reconnaissance efforts. The impact is amplified in enterprise environments where certificate management is critical for maintaining secure communications between multiple network segments and remote locations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0164 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for IPsec implementations. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to patched versions of the KAME racoon implementation where the hash value validation has been properly addressed in the affected source files. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual certificate deletion activities or malformed IKE messages that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include configuring firewalls to restrict unnecessary IKE traffic, implementing strict certificate validation policies, and establishing regular certificate management procedures that can quickly identify and respond to unauthorized certificate modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and input validation in security-critical software components, serving as a reminder of the necessity for thorough security testing and code review processes in protocol implementations. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to detect anomalous IKE protocol behavior and ensure that all IPsec implementations undergo regular security assessments to identify similar validation weaknesses.