CVE-2004-2678 in Tru64
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Tru64 UNIX 5.1B PK2(BL22) and PK3(BL24), and 5.1A PK6(BL24), when using IPsec/IKE (Internet Key Exchange) with Certificates, allows remote attackers to gain privileges via unknown attack vectors.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
This vulnerability resides within the HP Tru64 UNIX operating system's implementation of IPsec/IKE protocols when utilizing certificate-based authentication mechanisms. The unspecified nature of the flaw indicates that the exact technical weakness remains undisclosed, though it manifests specifically within the cryptographic handshake and certificate processing components of the IKE framework. The vulnerability affects multiple service pack versions including 5.1B PK2(BL22), 5.1B PK3(BL24), and 5.1A PK6(BL24), suggesting a systemic issue within the certificate handling infrastructure rather than a localized bug. The attack vector operates remotely, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Tru64 UNIX systems serve as network gateways or security appliances.
The technical execution of this privilege escalation vulnerability likely involves manipulation of certificate validation processes or cryptographic handshake sequences during IKE negotiation. When certificates are presented for authentication within the IPsec framework, the system's certificate processing module may fail to properly validate certificate attributes, chain of trust, or cryptographic integrity, allowing attackers to craft malicious certificate responses or manipulate certificate data structures. This could potentially enable an attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms, present forged certificates, or exploit weaknesses in the certificate verification logic that governs trust establishment between communicating parties. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue indicates that successful exploitation would grant the attacker elevated system privileges beyond normal user access levels, potentially leading to full system compromise.
From an operational perspective, systems running affected versions of HP Tru64 UNIX with IPsec/IKE certificate functionality represent high-value targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within corporate networks or secure communications infrastructures. The remote exploit capability means that adversaries can target these systems from outside the network perimeter, making traditional network segmentation measures insufficient for protection. Organizations utilizing IPsec VPNs, secure remote access solutions, or network infrastructure components that rely on certificate-based authentication would be particularly vulnerable. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to potential lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, and disruption of secure communication channels that depend on IPsec/IKE integrity. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and CWE-310 which covers cryptographic weaknesses in certificate handling processes.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses all systems utilizing HP Tru64 UNIX with IPsec/IKE certificate functionality, particularly those serving as VPN gateways, firewalls, or secure communication endpoints. Network infrastructure components that depend on certificate-based authentication for IPsec tunnel establishment are at risk, including enterprise VPN servers, secure email gateways, and network security appliances. The exploitation process likely involves crafting specially malformed certificate responses or manipulating certificate attributes during IKE negotiation phases, potentially leveraging techniques such as certificate forgery, man-in-the-middle attacks, or certificate chain manipulation. Attackers may also exploit weaknesses in certificate revocation checking or certificate lifetime validation, allowing them to reuse expired certificates or bypass certificate validation entirely.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application from HP, as the specific technical details are not publicly disclosed to prevent exploitation while maintaining security research integrity. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual certificate validation patterns or unexpected IKE negotiation behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected Tru64 UNIX systems within their environments and prioritize patching based on risk assessment. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation, and certificate management processes should be reviewed to ensure proper certificate lifecycle management and validation. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems capable of monitoring for suspicious IKE protocol behavior and certificate validation anomalies would provide early warning capabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to avoid potential service disruptions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 which covers credentials from password storage components and T1071.004 which addresses application layer protocols involving secure communication channels, emphasizing the need for comprehensive network security monitoring and certificate validation controls.