CVE-2007-0139 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the DECnet-Plus 7.3-2 feature in DECnet/OSI 7.3-2 for OpenVMS ALPHA, and the DECnet-Plus 7.3 feature in DECnet/OSI 7.3 for OpenVMS VAX, allows attackers to obtain "unintended privileged access to data and system resources" via unspecified vectors, related to (1) [SYSEXE]CTF$UI.EXE, (2) [SYSMSG]CTF$MESSAGES.EXE, (3) [SYSHLP]CTF$HELP.HLB, and (4) [SYSMGR]CTF$STARTUP.COM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0139 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the DECnet/OSI networking stack of OpenVMS operating systems. This issue affects both the ALPHA and VAX architectures running specific versions of the OpenVMS operating system, creating a persistent security weakness that could allow unauthorized users to gain elevated access rights to system resources and data. The vulnerability specifically targets components within the DECnet-Plus 7.3-2 and 7.3 feature implementations, which are fundamental networking protocols that enable communication between OpenVMS systems and other networked devices. The affected files CTF$UI.EXE, CTF$MESSAGES.EXE, CTF$HELP.HLB, and CTF$STARTUP.COM represent core system utilities that handle user interface operations, message processing, help system functionality, and system startup procedures respectively. These components are integral to the DECnet networking infrastructure and serve as potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit the underlying system vulnerabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the DECnet/OSI implementation, where the system fails to properly validate user privileges when accessing critical system resources. This flaw allows attackers to potentially bypass normal authorization checks and execute privileged operations that should only be available to system administrators or authorized users. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various means including network-based attacks, local system compromises, or potentially through social engineering techniques that leverage the legitimate system components. The affected executables and help files are likely susceptible to manipulation or exploitation through buffer overflows, improper input validation, or privilege escalation techniques that take advantage of the system's trust in these core components. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-276 category of improper privilege management, where the system fails to properly enforce access controls and authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gain complete control over affected OpenVMS systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access confidential data, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe for environments where OpenVMS systems serve as critical network infrastructure components, as the compromise of a single system could potentially allow lateral movement throughout the entire DECnet network. The vulnerability affects systems running DECnet-Plus 7.3-2 on ALPHA platforms and DECnet-Plus 7.3 on VAX platforms, which were commonly deployed in enterprise environments for mission-critical applications and network communications. Organizations relying on these legacy systems face significant risk if the vulnerability remains unpatched, as the attack surface includes not only the primary system but also all networked devices that depend on the compromised DECnet functionality.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of system updates and patches provided by Digital Equipment Corporation or its successors. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected OpenVMS systems within their network infrastructure and apply the appropriate security patches. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on restricting access to the affected DECnet components and system utilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation method where adversaries leverage weaknesses in system access controls to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activities related to the affected system components and establish incident response procedures that account for potential compromise of the DECnet networking infrastructure. Regular security audits of legacy systems should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components, as the presence of this vulnerability suggests potential weaknesses in the overall security architecture of the affected systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for legacy operating systems, as these older implementations often contain unaddressed security flaws that remain exploitable for extended periods.