CVE-2007-2139 in BrightStor ARCserve Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the SUN RPC service in CA (formerly Computer Associates) BrightStor ARCserve Media Server, as used in BrightStor ARCserve Backup 9.01 through 11.5 SP2, BrightStor Enterprise Backup 10.5, Server Protection Suite 2, and Business Protection Suite 2, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed RPC strings, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-5171, CVE-2006-5172, and CVE-2007-1785.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2139 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in the SUN RPC service component of CA BrightStor ARCserve Media Server software. This flaw affects multiple versions of CA's backup and protection suites including BrightStor ARCserve Backup 9.01 through 11.5 SP2, BrightStor Enterprise Backup 10.5, Server Protection Suite 2, and Business Protection Suite 2. The vulnerability specifically resides within the RPC service implementation that processes incoming network requests, making it accessible to remote attackers without authentication requirements. The flaw manifests when the service receives malformed RPC strings that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing a stack overflow condition that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length stack buffer. In this case, the SUN RPC service in the BrightStor software fails to properly validate the length of incoming RPC strings before copying them into fixed-size buffers on the stack. When an attacker sends a specially crafted RPC request containing oversized data, the excess data overflows into adjacent stack memory locations, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through network-based exploitation of the RPC service.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2139 is severe and far-reaching within enterprise environments that utilize CA BrightStor backup solutions. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain full control of the affected server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or use of the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network resources. The vulnerability affects backup infrastructure that is often considered a critical component of enterprise security operations, making it an attractive target for adversaries seeking to disrupt business operations or access sensitive data. Organizations using these backup solutions may face significant operational disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized access to backup data and systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2139 should include immediate implementation of network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected RPC services to trusted networks only. Organizations should apply available vendor patches and updates from CA as soon as they become available, though given the age of this vulnerability, organizations may need to consider migrating to modern backup solutions that have better security track records. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious RPC traffic patterns and malformed requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the RPC service, along with regular security assessments and penetration testing of backup infrastructure, will help reduce the attack surface and improve overall security posture. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with legacy backup systems that may no longer receive security updates from vendors.