CVE-2007-0080 in FreeRadius
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Buffer overflow in the SMB_Connect_Server function in FreeRadius 1.1.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary code related to the server desthost field of an SMB_Handle_Type instance. NOTE: the impact of this issue has been disputed by a reliable third party and the vendor, who states that exploitation is limited "only to local administrators who have write access to the server configuration files." CVE concurs with the dispute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0080 represents a buffer overflow condition within the FreeRadius server software version 1.1.3 and earlier releases. This issue resides in the SMB_Connect_Server function which processes SMB (Server Message Block) protocol connections within the radius server infrastructure. The buffer overflow specifically occurs when handling the server desthost field within an SMB_Handle_Type instance structure, creating a potential exploitation vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise the affected system. The vulnerability has been officially disputed by both the vendor and a reliable third party who have stated that successful exploitation is severely limited and requires pre-existing local administrative privileges with write access to server configuration files.
From a technical perspective, this buffer overflow vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw manifests when the SMB_Connect_Server function processes the desthost field without adequate input validation or size constraints, enabling an attacker to provide malicious input that exceeds the allocated buffer space. The operational impact of this vulnerability, as acknowledged by the CVE organization, is significantly constrained due to the requirement for local administrative access and write permissions to configuration files. This limitation places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation tactic with a specific technique of "Modify Configuration" and potentially "Exploitation for Client Execution" when considering the broader attack surface.
The disputed nature of this vulnerability stems from the fact that the exploitation requirements are extremely restrictive, making it impractical for remote attackers to leverage this flaw. The vendor's position that only local administrators with write access to configuration files can exploit this vulnerability aligns with the principle of least privilege and demonstrates the importance of proper access controls. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as a low-severity issue from a remote attack perspective but must still maintain proper configuration management practices. The requirement for local administrative privileges with write access to server configuration files means that this vulnerability primarily represents an internal threat rather than an external attack vector. Security practitioners should focus their attention on implementing proper access controls, regular configuration file audits, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to prevent exploitation even when this specific vulnerability is present in older FreeRadius installations.
The broader implications of this disputed vulnerability highlight the importance of proper vulnerability assessment and the distinction between theoretical security flaws and practical exploitation requirements. While buffer overflow vulnerabilities can be critical when exploitable remotely, the specific constraints of this CVE demonstrate that not all buffer overflows represent equal threat levels. Organizations must evaluate vulnerabilities based on their actual exploitability conditions and not simply their technical classification. The dispute resolution by CVE demonstrates the collaborative nature of vulnerability assessment within the cybersecurity community where vendors, researchers, and organizations work together to properly characterize security issues. This case study emphasizes the importance of considering the full attack surface and exploitation prerequisites when prioritizing security remediation efforts and understanding the true risk posture of an organization's systems.