CVE-2005-2170 in Tivoli Management Framework
Summary
by MITRE
The LCF component (lcfd) in IBM Tivoli Management Framework Endpoint allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process exit and connection loss) by connecting to LCF and ending the connection without sending any data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2170 affects the LCF component, specifically the lcfd service, within IBM Tivoli Management Framework Endpoint. This represents a classic denial of service weakness that exploits the protocol handling behavior of the management framework's endpoint component. The LCF service operates as a critical communication interface for managing and monitoring endpoints within the Tivoli ecosystem, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on continuous availability of management services. The flaw exists in how the lcfd process handles incoming connections that are immediately terminated without transmitting any data payload, creating a scenario where legitimate service operations can be disrupted through seemingly benign network activity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and connection state management within the lcfd component. When a remote attacker establishes a TCP connection to the LCF service port and then abruptly closes the connection without sending any data, the lcfd process fails to properly handle this edge case. This improper handling results in the process terminating unexpectedly and causing connection loss for legitimate clients attempting to communicate with the management framework. The vulnerability manifests as a process exit condition that cascades into broader service disruption, effectively denying access to authorized users and potentially impacting the monitoring and management capabilities of the entire Tivoli framework deployment.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2170 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise the integrity of enterprise monitoring operations. Organizations relying on IBM Tivoli Management Framework Endpoint for critical infrastructure monitoring face the risk of unauthorized parties deliberately disrupting management communications through this vulnerability. The attack vector requires minimal resources and technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as a low-effort denial of service mechanism that can be executed repeatedly to maintain service disruption. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes improper handling of exceptional conditions, specifically addressing the lack of proper error handling for connection termination scenarios. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through denial of service attacks, demonstrating how this weakness can be exploited to create operational chaos within enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2170 should focus on implementing robust connection handling mechanisms within the LCF component and establishing network-level protections. Organizations should apply the relevant IBM security patches and updates that address the improper connection termination handling behavior in lcfd. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit exposure by restricting direct access to the LCF service ports from untrusted networks. Implementing connection rate limiting and monitoring for unusual connection patterns can provide early detection of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, configuring the LCF service to implement proper timeout handling and connection state management can prevent the process from exiting due to malformed connection sequences. The vulnerability highlights the importance of defensive programming practices and proper error handling in mission-critical systems, particularly those that serve as communication endpoints for enterprise management frameworks where reliability and availability are paramount for operational continuity.