CVE-2004-0993 in Sockd
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in hpsockd before 0.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0993 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the hpsockd daemon version 0.5 and earlier, which serves as a socket daemon for the Hewlett-Packard OpenView Network Node Manager. This daemon operates as a network service listening on specific ports to handle communication between network management systems and managed devices. The buffer overflow vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the daemon's processing of network packets, particularly when handling malformed or excessively long data payloads. The flaw exists in the way hpsockd processes incoming socket connections and interprets data structures, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to manipulate memory layout through crafted network traffic. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the daemon fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers, leading to memory corruption that can result in arbitrary code execution or system crash.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the buffer overflow can potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the hpsockd process. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of hpsockd, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on Hewlett-Packard OpenView Network Node Manager for network monitoring and management, which were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause immediate application crashes and system instability, disrupting network management operations and potentially providing attackers with persistent access to the compromised systems. The attack vector requires remote network access to the affected service ports, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these services are exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0993 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Hewlett-Packard. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to hpsockd version 0.6 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms that prevent the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to hpsockd service ports from untrusted networks, limiting the attack surface for potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns or malformed packets that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious network activity targeting the specific service ports used by hpsockd. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the use of malicious code to gain system access through buffer overflow attacks, making it a significant concern for enterprise security operations and incident response procedures.