CVE-2007-1995 in Quagga
Summary
by MITRE
bgpd/bgp_attr.c in Quagga 0.98.6 and earlier, and 0.99.6 and earlier 0.99 versions, does not validate length values in the MP_REACH_NLRI and MP_UNREACH_NLRI attributes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash or exit) via crafted UPDATE messages that trigger an assertion error or out of bounds read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1995 resides within the bgpd component of Quagga routing software, specifically in the bgp_attr.c file where it processes multiprotocol reachability information attributes. This flaw affects versions 0.98.6 and earlier, as well as 0.99.6 and earlier 0.99 releases, representing a critical security issue in network infrastructure software that handles border gateway protocol operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of length parameters within the MP_REACH_NLRI and MP_UNREACH_NLRI attributes, which are essential components of BGP UPDATE messages used for advertising and withdrawing routing information across internet networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper input validation mechanisms within the BGP attribute processing logic. When maliciously crafted UPDATE messages containing malformed MP_REACH_NLRI or MP_UNREACH_NLRI attributes are received by a vulnerable Quagga daemon, the software fails to properly validate the length fields before attempting to process the associated data structures. This omission leads to two primary failure modes: assertion errors that cause the daemon to terminate abruptly, and out-of-bounds memory read operations that can result in segmentation faults and subsequent daemon crashes. The flaw operates at the protocol parsing level where network daemons typically validate incoming data before processing it, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal network communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network stability and availability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the bgpd daemon to crash repeatedly, leading to routing table instability and potential network partitioning as routers lose connectivity to their neighbors. This type of denial of service attack can have cascading effects across network infrastructure, particularly in environments where multiple routers depend on stable BGP sessions for proper routing operations. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production network environments where BGP daemons are exposed to untrusted network traffic.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Quagga installations to versions that properly validate attribute length parameters. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual BGP UPDATE message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also considering network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure to untrusted sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses validation of input length parameters, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their routing infrastructure to identify other potential weaknesses in BGP implementation that could be exploited in similar fashion, ensuring that all network daemon components properly validate input data before processing.