CVE-2005-0968 in eTrust Intrusion Detection
Summary
by MITRE
Computer Associates (CA) eTrust Intrusion Detection 3.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via large size values that are not properly validated before calling the CPImportKey function in the Crypto API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0968 affects Computer Associates eTrust Intrusion Detection version 3.0, a widely deployed network security monitoring solution that provides intrusion detection capabilities for enterprise environments. This particular flaw resides within the cryptographic subsystem of the software, specifically in the CPImportKey function that handles key import operations. The vulnerability represents a classic case of input validation failure that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt the normal operation of the intrusion detection system, potentially compromising network security monitoring capabilities.
The technical flaw manifests when the system receives malformed input parameters containing excessively large size values that are not properly validated before being passed to the CPImportKey function. This function, part of the Crypto API component, processes cryptographic keys and performs operations that require specific parameter constraints to maintain system stability. When attackers submit oversized parameters, the validation mechanism fails to properly sanitize the input, allowing the system to attempt processing data that exceeds expected boundaries. This leads to memory corruption conditions and ultimately results in system instability, causing the intrusion detection service to crash and become unavailable.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a significant threat to network security operations. When the eTrust Intrusion Detection system becomes unavailable due to denial of service, organizations lose critical monitoring capabilities that protect their networks from various cyber threats. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the target system. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, potentially leaving networks exposed to attacks that would otherwise be detected and mitigated by the intrusion detection system.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input buffers, and CWE-131, which covers improper handling of buffer sizes. The attack pattern corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks that target network infrastructure components. Organizations utilizing this software face significant risk during the period between vulnerability disclosure and patch deployment, as the system remains vulnerable to exploitation. The nature of the vulnerability suggests that attackers could potentially leverage this to create persistent availability issues that would require manual intervention to restore service, complicating incident response procedures and potentially masking other concurrent attacks.
The recommended mitigations include immediate deployment of security patches provided by Computer Associates, implementation of network segmentation to limit exposure of the intrusion detection system to untrusted networks, and deployment of network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant intrusion detection capabilities and establishing incident response procedures specifically addressing service availability disruptions. Additionally, regular security assessments of cryptographic components and input validation mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other security software components.