CVE-2007-0113 in PacketWise
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Packeteer PacketShaper PacketWise 8.x allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (reset or reboot) via (1) a long traffic class argument to the "class show" command or (2) a long POLICY parameter value in clastree.htm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0113 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Packeteer PacketShaper PacketWise 8.x network management software. This issue affects the authentication mechanisms of the system and provides remote authenticated attackers with the capability to execute denial of service attacks against the targeted device. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the command processing functions of the PacketWise application, specifically in how it handles user-supplied data in two distinct operational contexts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that exploit the same underlying buffer overflow condition. The first vector involves sending a malformed traffic class argument to the "class show" command where the attacker can provide an excessively long string that exceeds the allocated buffer space in memory. The second vector targets the clastree.htm web interface component where an overly long POLICY parameter value can trigger the same buffer overflow condition. Both attack scenarios leverage the absence of proper string length validation and memory boundary checks that would normally prevent such overflow conditions from occurring during normal operation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to network infrastructure reliability and availability. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow causes the PacketShaper device to reset or reboot, effectively removing the network management capabilities from the targeted system. This disruption can lead to complete loss of visibility into network traffic patterns, inability to enforce quality of service policies, and potential network performance degradation. The remote nature of the attack means that an authenticated user with valid credentials can compromise the device from anywhere within the network perimeter, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, indicating an out-of-bounds write vulnerability. From an adversary perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption by service exhaustion, and T1071.004 which involves application layer protocol manipulation. The attack requires only authenticated access, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by malicious insiders or through credential compromise. Organizations using PacketShaper 8.x systems should immediately implement mitigations including access control restrictions, network segmentation, and application-level input validation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected PacketShaper devices to the latest firmware versions provided by Packeteer. Network administrators should also implement strict access controls and authentication measures to limit the number of users with administrative privileges. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, implementing network segmentation to isolate critical network management systems, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in network management applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for security testing in enterprise network infrastructure software.