CVE-2007-1664 in ekg
Summary
by MITRE
ekg before 1:1.7~rc2-1etch1 on Debian GNU/Linux Etch allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a vector related to the token OCR functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1664 affects the ekg package version 1:1.7~rc2-1etch1 running on Debian GNU/Linux Etch systems. This issue represents a denial of service condition that can be triggered remotely through specific interactions with the token OCR functionality within the application. The flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference, indicating that the software fails to properly validate input data during the optical character recognition processing of tokens, leading to a crash of the targeted service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the OCR component of ekg. When maliciously crafted data is processed through the token recognition system, the application attempts to dereference a null pointer without proper null checks, causing an immediate crash of the service. This behavior aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of improper error handling in security-sensitive applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can send data to the affected service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged to create persistent availability issues for systems relying on ekg for communication services. Organizations using this version of ekg on Debian Etch systems face potential risks of service unavailability, which could affect critical communication infrastructure depending on the deployment environment. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the denial of service condition from external networks without requiring local access or credentials, making this vulnerability particularly attractive for adversaries seeking to disrupt services. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks and demonstrates how seemingly minor code flaws can create significant operational impacts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1664 should prioritize immediate patching of the ekg package to version 1:1.7~rc2-1etch1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the NULL pointer dereference issue. System administrators should also implement network-level controls such as firewall rules that limit access to the affected service ports, and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other systems running vulnerable versions of ekg or similar applications that may exhibit similar characteristics. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation and null pointer checks within the OCR token processing module, ensuring that all pointer references are validated before dereferencing operations occur. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level monitoring to detect unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and maintain regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through outdated software components.