CVE-2005-3002 in MCCS
Summary
by MITRE
Multi-Computer Control System (MCCS) 1.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a malformed UDP packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3002 affects the Multi-Computer Control System version 1.0, which represents a critical flaw in network protocol handling that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted UDP packets. This system, designed for managing multiple computer environments, contains a fundamental weakness in its packet processing logic that fails to properly validate incoming UDP traffic, creating an exploitable condition that can bring the entire system to a halt.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the MCCS 1.0 UDP packet handling mechanism, where the system does not adequately sanitize or verify the structure and content of incoming UDP datagrams before processing them. When a malformed UDP packet is transmitted to the affected system, the lack of proper boundary checks and protocol compliance validation causes the system to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the control system inoperable. This vulnerability operates at the network layer and demonstrates a classic example of insufficient error handling and input sanitization that falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically related to improper validation of input boundaries and protocol compliance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as the Multi-Computer Control System likely manages critical infrastructure components that require continuous availability. When compromised through this UDP-based denial of service attack, the affected system can no longer maintain control over connected computers, potentially leading to cascading failures in dependent systems. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from any network location without requiring physical access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where system availability is paramount. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498 which describes denial of service attacks targeting network services and infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust network filtering mechanisms that can identify and block malformed UDP traffic before it reaches the vulnerable system. Network administrators should deploy intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection capabilities specifically targeting this vulnerability pattern, while also implementing proper input validation at network boundaries. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the MCCS software that properly validates UDP packet structures and implements graceful error handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of such attacks by reducing the attack surface and preventing unauthorized access to the vulnerable system components.