CVE-2004-2410 in Samhain
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in sh_hash_compdata for Samhain 1.8.9 through 2.0.1 might allow attackers to cause a denial of service (null pointer dereference).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2410 affects Samhain versions 1.8.9 through 2.0.1, specifically within the sh_hash_compdata function. This issue represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw that can be exploited to trigger a denial of service condition. Samhain is a host-based intrusion detection system designed to monitor system integrity and detect unauthorized changes to files and system configurations. The vulnerability manifests when the hash comparison data function fails to properly validate pointer references during processing operations.
The technical flaw occurs within the hash comparison mechanism where the sh_hash_compdata function attempts to dereference a pointer that may be null under certain conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper null pointer dereference as classified by CWE-476, which is a common weakness in software development where programs fail to check if a pointer is null before attempting to access the memory location it points to. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate input processing, making it difficult to distinguish between normal operation and malicious exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions. When exploited, the null pointer dereference causes the Samhain daemon to crash or terminate unexpectedly, effectively removing the system from intrusion detection monitoring capabilities. This creates a window of vulnerability where the system becomes unprotected against potential intrusions while administrators are unaware of the service disruption. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted input data to the Samhain service that triggers the faulty code path within the hash comparison routine.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network disruption through service availability attacks. The vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to create persistent denial of service conditions against the intrusion detection system itself, potentially masking other malicious activities or preventing system administrators from detecting ongoing attacks. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be performed remotely, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise system integrity monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Samhain versions to the latest stable releases where the null pointer dereference has been corrected. Organizations should implement monitoring for unusual service termination patterns and ensure proper input validation is in place for all data processing functions. The fix typically involves adding proper null pointer checks before dereferencing pointers in the hash comparison code, which aligns with defensive programming practices recommended in secure coding standards. System administrators should also consider implementing redundant monitoring solutions to maintain intrusion detection capabilities even if the primary system is compromised by such vulnerabilities.