CVE-2004-0657 in NTP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the NTP daemon (NTPd) before 4.0 causes the NTP server to return the wrong date/time offset when a client requests a date/time that is more than 34 years away from the server s time.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0657 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Network Time Protocol daemon version 4.0 and earlier implementations. This issue specifically affects the time synchronization functionality of network time servers, creating a scenario where legitimate time requests can trigger erroneous behavior in the NTP service. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic handling within the NTP daemon's time calculation algorithms, where integer overflow conditions cause incorrect time offset computations when clients request dates that are more than 34 years distant from the server's current time reference.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the NTP daemon's inability to properly handle large time values during the time offset calculation process. When a client makes a time request for a date more than 34 years away from the server's current time, the integer overflow condition causes the system to compute incorrect time offsets that can result in significant time discrepancies. This flaw operates at the protocol level and affects the fundamental time synchronization capabilities of NTP implementations, making it particularly dangerous for systems that rely on precise timekeeping for security operations, logging, and network coordination. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow condition, specifically representing an unsigned integer overflow that leads to incorrect time calculations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple timekeeping errors to potentially compromise system security and network operations. Systems relying on accurate time synchronization for authentication mechanisms, certificate validation, and security logging may experience significant disruptions when the NTP daemon returns incorrect time offsets. The 34-year threshold creates a predictable attack vector where malicious actors could exploit this behavior to cause time-related inconsistencies that might interfere with security protocols, audit trails, and system coordination. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where precise time synchronization is critical for maintaining security boundaries and operational integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0657 require immediate implementation of NTP daemon updates to version 4.0 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the integer overflow conditions. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual time synchronization behaviors and establish robust time source validation procedures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and arithmetic handling in network protocols, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 for credential dumping and T1070.006 for indicator removal through time manipulation. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their time synchronization infrastructure and implement redundant time sources to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities on critical network operations.