CVE-2005-0185 in NodeManager Professional
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in NodeManager Professional 2.00 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a LinkDown-Trap packet that contains a long OCTET-STRING in the Trap variable-bindings field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0185 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within NodeManager Professional 2.00 software, specifically affecting the handling of SNMP trap packets. This vulnerability exists in the trap variable-bindings field where the system processes OCTET-STRING data without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates through the standard SNMP trap mechanism, which is commonly used for network monitoring and management, making it accessible to attackers who can send malicious trap packets to the vulnerable service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the SNMP trap processing code. When NodeManager Professional receives a LinkDown-Trap packet containing an excessively long OCTET-STRING value in the variable-bindings field, the application fails to validate the length of this data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the software assumes the incoming data will fit within predetermined memory boundaries without performing adequate size checks or bounds validation. The flaw is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which directly enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data, thereby allowing arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network infrastructure security as it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SNMP trap packets that contain oversized OCTET-STRING values, effectively bypassing normal network security controls that typically monitor for suspicious traffic patterns. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially provide attackers with full system compromise capabilities, including privilege escalation and persistent access to the network management infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries can leverage the executed code to establish further footholds within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0185 should focus on immediate patching of the NodeManager Professional software to address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of SNMP trap processing services to untrusted networks, while also deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying and blocking malformed SNMP trap packets. Additionally, SNMP security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized management stations can send trap packets, and network administrators should consider disabling unnecessary SNMP trap processing functionality when not actively required. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in network management applications, particularly those handling external data streams through standard protocols like SNMP that are inherently designed for network communication and monitoring purposes.