CVE-2004-2539 in Data Ontap
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Network Appliance NetCache 5.2 and Data ONTAP 6.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic and reboot) and possibly other impacts via unknown attack vectors, possibly related to unspecified worms, as identified by bug ID
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2539 represents a critical remote denial of service weakness affecting Network Appliance NetCache 5.2 and Data ONTAP 6.0 systems. This flaw manifests as a panic condition that triggers system reboot operations, effectively disrupting network services and potentially compromising data availability. The vulnerability's classification as unknown suggests that the precise attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms were not fully documented at the time of discovery, creating significant challenges for security professionals attempting to assess risk and implement appropriate defenses. The presence of bug ID references indicates that this issue was tracked within Network Appliance's internal systems, suggesting a formal recognition of the problem by the vendor despite limited public disclosure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of system stability compromise, where malicious actors can induce kernel-level panic conditions that result in complete system restarts. Such vulnerabilities typically exploit weaknesses in protocol handling, memory management, or input validation mechanisms within network appliances. The unspecified worm-related connection suggests potential exploitation through network-based malware that could leverage this weakness to propagate across systems or amplify the denial of service impact. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within a Limited Access Scope, as the system fails to properly restrict operations that could cause system-wide panic conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Network Appliance systems for critical network services and data storage operations. The ability to remotely trigger system reboots without authentication presents a severe threat vector that could be exploited by attackers to disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where continuous availability is paramount. The potential for additional impacts beyond simple reboot operations indicates that this vulnerability might serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks or could be combined with other exploits to achieve broader system compromise. Organizations using these specific versions of NetCache and Data ONTAP would face significant operational disruption if exploited, potentially affecting multiple network services and requiring extensive recovery procedures.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch application from Network Appliance, as the vendor would have developed specific fixes to address the underlying system instability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual reboot patterns or panic conditions that might indicate exploitation attempts, while network traffic analysis can help identify potential worm propagation or other malicious activities targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network configurations or applications. Organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems with signatures specific to known attack patterns targeting this vulnerability, and maintain detailed incident response procedures that account for potential system-wide disruptions caused by such exploits.