CVE-2007-2010 in bftpd
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in bftpd before 1.8 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a (1) get or (2) mget command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2018
The CVE-2007-2010 vulnerability represents a critical double free memory corruption issue within the bftpd file transfer protocol daemon version 1.7 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the daemon's handling of specific file transfer commands, specifically the get and mget operations that are commonly used by authenticated users to retrieve files from the server. The flaw manifests when the bftpd daemon processes these commands without proper memory management checks, leading to a situation where the same memory block is freed twice during the execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-415 category, which specifically addresses double free conditions in memory management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated remote user sends maliciously crafted get or mget commands to the bftpd server. During command processing, the daemon's memory allocation routines fail to properly track memory blocks that are being freed, resulting in a scenario where the same memory address is returned to the system heap twice. This double free condition creates a state where the heap management structures become corrupted, leading to unpredictable behavior in the daemon's execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it only requires authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can trigger the denial of service condition. This flaw directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, and specifically targets the daemon service availability aspect of the attack chain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged as part of a broader attack strategy against file transfer services. When successfully exploited, the daemon crashes and terminates its process, requiring manual intervention or automatic restart mechanisms to restore service availability. This creates a window of service unavailability that can be particularly damaging in environments where continuous access to file transfer services is critical. The vulnerability affects systems running bftpd versions prior to 1.8, making it a target for attackers seeking to disrupt file transfer operations in organizations that have not updated their server software. The impact is further exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability requires minimal privileges to exploit, as it only necessitates authenticated access to the service, which is often considered a baseline requirement for legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2010 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to bftpd version 1.8 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes to prevent the double free condition. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the exposure of vulnerable services to unauthorized users. System administrators should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious command patterns associated with the get and mget operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices in server-side applications, particularly those handling user input, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and patch management processes. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect daemon crashes or restarts that may indicate exploitation attempts, providing early warning capabilities for potential security incidents.