CVE-2007-1841 in Ipsec-tools
Summary
by MITRE
The isakmp_info_recv function in src/racoon/isakmp_inf.c in racoon in Ipsec-tools before 0.6.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (tunnel crash) via crafted (1) DELETE (ISAKMP_NPTYPE_D) and (2) NOTIFY (ISAKMP_NPTYPE_N) messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1841 affects the racoon implementation of the IPsec tools suite, specifically targeting the isakmp_info_recv function within the src/racoon/isakmp_inf.c source file. This flaw exists in versions of ipsec-tools prior to 0.6.7 and represents a significant denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers to crash IPsec tunnels. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and processing of ISAKMP messages, particularly those related to DELETE and NOTIFY message types.
The technical flaw manifests when the isakmp_info_recv function fails to properly handle crafted DELETE (ISAKMP_NPTYPE_D) and NOTIFY (ISAKMP_NPTYPE_N) messages. These messages are part of the Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) framework used for establishing and maintaining security associations in IPsec implementations. When malformed or specially crafted instances of these message types are received, the function does not adequately validate the message structures or contents, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or improper state handling that ultimately results in the complete crash of the IPsec tunnel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can compromise the entire IPsec infrastructure relying on racoon for key management and security association establishment. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in network environments where IPsec tunnels are critical for secure communications. The tunnel crash effect means that legitimate users and services dependent on these secure connections will experience immediate disruption of their encrypted communication channels, potentially affecting business continuity and network security posture.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in network protocol implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Denial of Service attack technique under the T1499.004 sub-technique for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage protocol implementation flaws to disrupt network services. Organizations using affected versions of ipsec-tools should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as the lack of authentication requirements makes it particularly attractive to malicious actors seeking to disrupt network communications. The remediation involves upgrading to ipsec-tools version 0.6.7 or later, which includes proper input validation mechanisms for handling ISAKMP messages and prevents the exploitation of this specific vulnerability through crafted DELETE and NOTIFY message sequences.