CVE-2005-3658 in Legato NetWorker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in EMC Legato NetWorker 7.1.x before 7.1.4 and 7.2.x before 7.2.1.Build.314, and other products such as Sun Solstice Backup (SBU) 6.0 and 6.1 and StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software (EBS) 7.1 through 7.2L, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (unresponsive application) via malformed RPC packets to (1) RPC program number 390109 (nsrd.exe) and (2) RPC program number 390113 (nsrexecd.exe).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3658 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow issue affecting multiple enterprise backup software products including EMC Legato NetWorker versions 7.1.x through 7.2.1 and related Sun products such as Solstice Backup and StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software. This vulnerability resides in the remote procedure call (RPC) handling mechanisms of these backup applications, specifically within two distinct RPC program numbers that process network communication for backup operations. The flaw manifests when these applications receive malformed RPC packets that exceed allocated buffer boundaries, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit memory corruption conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system unresponsiveness.
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. The affected RPC programs nsrd.exe (program number 390109) and nsrexecd.exe (program number 390113) process backup requests and execute remote commands respectively, making them prime targets for exploitation. When these processes receive malformed data structures through RPC communication, the buffer overflow occurs in heap memory management, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger these conditions without physical access to the target systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where backup servers are accessible to external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include complete system compromise. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service processes, which typically run with elevated permissions to perform backup operations. This could result in unauthorized data access, system takeover, or complete disruption of backup services that organizations rely upon for data recovery operations. The vulnerability affects backup infrastructure that is often considered critical for business continuity, meaning that exploitation could lead to significant operational disruption and potential data loss. Organizations using these backup systems may experience unresponsive applications, application crashes, or more severe conditions where attackers gain unauthorized access to backup data or system resources.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment as provided by the vendor, which would include updates to the RPC handling code to implement proper bounds checking and memory validation. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to backup servers, particularly ensuring that RPC ports for these services are not exposed to untrusted networks. Implementing network access controls through firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor and prevent unauthorized RPC communication attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of backup processes to authorized users and systems only. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving remote code execution through network services and privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive security postures that address both network and application-level threats. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in enterprise backup systems, highlighting the need for robust security practices in critical infrastructure components that handle sensitive data operations.