CVE-2005-2535 in Brightstor Enterprise Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Discovery Service in BrightStor ARCserve Backup 9.0 through 11.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a large packet to TCP port 41523, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-0260.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2535 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Discovery Service component of Symantec BrightStor ARCserve Backup software versions 9.0 through 11.1. This issue manifests as a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers positioned outside the network perimeter. The vulnerability specifically affects TCP port 41523 which serves as the primary communication channel for the Discovery Service functionality. The buffer overflow occurs when the service processes incoming packets that exceed the allocated buffer space, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This particular vulnerability operates independently from CVE-2005-0260, indicating distinct attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms within the same software suite. The affected versions span a significant timeframe from 2005 through 2006, suggesting that this flaw remained unpatched for several years and likely affected numerous enterprise backup environments. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized users to gain full administrative control over backup servers, potentially leading to data theft, system corruption, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations with exposed ports 41523 would be immediately vulnerable without proper network segmentation or firewall rules. Organizations running these legacy backup systems faced significant risk as the vulnerability could be exploited without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where backup infrastructure was not properly isolated from production networks. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that many backup systems operate with elevated privileges, increasing the potential damage from successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of network segmentation and proper port management, particularly for legacy enterprise backup solutions. The flaw exemplifies ATT&CK technique T1210, which involves exploiting weaknesses in remote services to gain access to systems, and T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Security professionals should consider implementing network access controls to restrict access to port 41523, particularly in environments where the service is not actively required. Additionally, organizations should ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to address known vulnerabilities in enterprise backup solutions. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments of legacy systems, as many organizations continued to use these older versions long after their support cycles had ended. This particular flaw represents a common pattern in enterprise backup software where service components are exposed to network traffic without adequate security controls, creating persistent attack vectors for threat actors. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities often leads to cascading security incidents, as backup systems frequently contain sensitive data and credentials that can be leveraged for further attacks within the organization's infrastructure.