CVE-2004-0950 in NetOp
Summary
by MITRE
NetOp Host before 7.65 build 2004278 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive hostname, username and local IP address information via (1) a NetOp HELO request, or (2) when responses are disabled, a "custom" HELO request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0950 affects NetOp Host software versions prior to 7.65 build 2004278, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the communication protocols of the NetOp Host service, specifically in how it handles certain handshake requests during network initialization. The flaw allows adversaries to extract critical system information including hostnames, usernames, and local IP addresses through carefully crafted network requests that exploit the service's response mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output sanitization in network service implementations, where the system fails to properly filter or restrict the information returned in response to specific request types.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage the NetOp Host service's HELO request handling capabilities. The first vector involves sending a standard NetOp HELO request to the target system, which causes the service to respond with detailed hostname and username information that should remain confidential. The second vector becomes applicable when the service has responses disabled, allowing attackers to bypass normal restrictions by sending a "custom" HELO request that circumvents the standard response filtering mechanisms. This dual attack approach demonstrates the vulnerability's design flaw where the service's response handling logic does not adequately differentiate between legitimate and malicious requests, nor does it implement proper access controls to restrict information disclosure. The vulnerability essentially represents a failure in the service's authentication and authorization framework, where the system provides sensitive information without proper verification of the requester's legitimacy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed hostname, username, and IP address information can serve as critical intelligence for subsequent attack phases. Attackers can use this information to build detailed profiles of target systems, identify potential attack vectors, and plan more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or network reconnaissance. The exposure of local IP addresses particularly enables attackers to map internal network topologies and identify potential targets for lateral movement within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through improper access control and insufficient output filtering, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1082 for system information discovery. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented, as the disclosed information can facilitate network mapping and privilege escalation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and the underlying architectural issues that enabled the information disclosure. Organizations should immediately upgrade to NetOp Host version 7.65 build 2004278 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of hostname, username, and IP address information. Network administrators should implement proper access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to the NetOp Host service ports, limiting the attack surface available to potential adversaries. The service configuration should be reviewed to ensure that response mechanisms are properly secured and that custom request handling does not bypass normal security controls. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect and alert on unusual HELO request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should verify that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other network services and that proper input validation and output filtering mechanisms are implemented across all network-facing applications. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper information hiding principles in network services and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against information disclosure attacks.