CVE-2005-3985 in Security Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The Internet Key Exchange version 1 (IKEv1) implementation in Astaro Security Linux before 6.102 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted IKE packets, as demonstrated by the PROTOS ISAKMP Test Suite for IKEv1. NOTE: due to the lack of details in the advisory, it is unclear which of CVE-2005-3666, CVE-2005-3667, and/or CVE-2005-3668 this issue applies to.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3985 targets the Internet Key Exchange version 1 protocol implementation within Astaro Security Linux operating systems prior to version 6.102. This represents a critical security flaw in the foundational cryptographic framework that enables secure key exchange for IPSec VPN connections. The issue manifests through malformed IKE packets that can be crafted by remote attackers to exploit weaknesses in the protocol handling mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of cryptographic protocol implementation flaws that can compromise the integrity and availability of security infrastructure components.
The technical flaw lies in the improper handling of Internet Key Exchange packets within the Astaro Security Linux implementation, specifically affecting the IKEv1 protocol stack. Attackers can construct specially crafted packets that trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions within the IKE daemon. These malformed packets can cause the system to crash or enter an undefined state, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt VPN connectivity for legitimate users. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution stems from memory corruption issues that could allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the IKE service process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire security infrastructure of systems relying on Astaro Security Linux for VPN connectivity. Organizations using affected versions face risks of unauthorized access to their network resources, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent connections or escalate privileges within the secured environment. The denial of service aspect particularly affects mission-critical applications that depend on secure communication channels, potentially causing business disruption and loss of productivity. Additionally, the possibility of remote code execution creates opportunities for attackers to establish backdoors or deploy additional malware within the network perimeter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3985 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Astaro Security Linux installations to version 6.102 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the IKEv1 implementation flaws. Network administrators should implement monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious IKE packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The use of network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing alternative VPN solutions or upgrading to IKEv2 implementations, which generally provide better security characteristics and are less susceptible to the types of vulnerabilities present in the affected IKEv1 implementations. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that can occur in cryptographic protocol implementations. The attack vectors associated with this vulnerability correspond to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1071.004 for application layer protocols and T1499.004 for network disruption. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in security protocol implementations, particularly those handling cryptographic key exchanges that form the backbone of network security infrastructures.