CVE-2006-5286 in BorderManager
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IKE.NLM in Novell BorderManager 3.8 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via unknown attack vectors related to "VPN issues" for certain "IKE and IPsec settings."
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5286 affects Novell BorderManager 3.8's IKE.NLM component, which handles Internet Key Exchange protocol operations for VPN connections. This unspecified weakness exists within the IKE implementation that manages security associations and key exchanges for IPsec-based virtual private networks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the BorderManager's ability to process certain IKE and IPsec configurations, creating potential points of failure that can be exploited by malicious actors. The affected system operates as a network security gateway that facilitates secure remote access and site-to-site VPN connections, making it a critical component in enterprise network infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue indicates that successful exploitation can cause the targeted system to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting network connectivity and access services for legitimate users.
The technical flaw manifests in how IKE.NLM processes specific VPN-related parameters and configuration settings that govern the establishment and maintenance of IPsec security associations. Attackers can leverage unknown attack vectors that likely involve crafting malformed IKE messages or exploiting particular combinations of IKE and IPsec parameters that the system cannot properly handle. These attack vectors may involve manipulating message sequence numbers, invalidating security parameters, or triggering edge cases in the IKE state machine implementation. The vulnerability's nature suggests that the system lacks adequate input validation and error handling mechanisms when processing certain VPN configuration combinations. The IKE protocol operates through multiple phases including authentication, key exchange, and security association establishment, and the flaw appears to occur during one of these critical phases when processing specific parameter sets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network security posture and business continuity. When the BorderManager appliance crashes or becomes unresponsive, it affects all VPN services that depend on the system, including remote employee access, partner connectivity, and site-to-site tunnel operations. Organizations relying on this VPN infrastructure may experience extended downtime during which critical business communications and data access become unavailable. The vulnerability can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors, with potential for significant business disruption depending on the organization's reliance on BorderManager for secure communications. Network administrators may face challenges in identifying the root cause of service outages, as the crash may not provide clear diagnostic information about the specific IKE parameter that triggered the failure. The impact is particularly severe in environments where BorderManager serves as the primary VPN gateway for enterprise-wide remote access solutions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5286 should focus on implementing immediate protective measures while planning for long-term resolution. Organizations should apply available patches from Novell if they exist, though given the age of this vulnerability, support may no longer be available for the specific version. Network segmentation and monitoring can help detect unusual VPN traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Implementing redundant VPN infrastructure and failover mechanisms can minimize the impact of a potential crash on business operations. Security teams should review and standardize IKE and IPsec configuration parameters to avoid triggering the vulnerable code paths. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited context, and may also relate to CWE-20 which covers improper input validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1499 for endpoint disruption and T1566 for credential harvesting if the system's compromise leads to further access, though the primary impact remains denial of service. Organizations should consider migrating to modern VPN solutions that have better security track records and active support lifecycles to eliminate exposure to legacy vulnerabilities like this one.