CVE-2004-1702 in Cfengine
Summary
by MITRE
The AuthenticationDialogue function in cfservd for Cfengine 2.0.0 to 2.1.7p1 does not properly check the return value of the ReceiveTransaction function, which leads to a failed malloc call and triggers to a null dereference, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1702 resides within the authentication dialogue functionality of cfservd, the central server component of Cfengine versions 2.0.0 through 2.1.7p1. This flaw represents a classic software security issue where improper error handling leads to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability specifically targets the AuthenticationDialogue function which is responsible for managing client authentication processes within the Cfengine secure configuration management framework.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error validation within the authentication flow. When the ReceiveTransaction function fails to properly execute, the AuthenticationDialogue function fails to verify the return value before proceeding with subsequent operations. This oversight creates a scenario where a failed memory allocation attempt occurs, resulting in a null pointer assignment. The subsequent null dereference represents a fundamental programming error that occurs when the system attempts to access memory at a null address, leading to an immediate system crash.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems relying on Cfengine for configuration management and security policy enforcement. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting specific network requests that trigger the authentication dialogue process, causing the cfservd daemon to crash and terminate its service. This creates a denial of service condition that affects the entire configuration management infrastructure, potentially leaving systems vulnerable to unauthorized access or configuration drift. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a core authentication mechanism, meaning that even legitimate authentication attempts could trigger the crash condition.
The flaw aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses null pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the attack technique of service disruption within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the availability aspect of the CIA triad. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need not have physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Cfengine servers are exposed to external traffic.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Cfengine installations to versions that properly handle error conditions and validate return values from memory allocation functions. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of cfservd to trusted networks only, and deploy monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms in custom code that interfaces with similar authentication functions can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other systems. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the authentication functionality operates correctly under various error conditions while maintaining the system's overall stability and security posture.