CVE-2007-2343 in NetSight Inventory Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the TFTPD component in Enterasys NetSight Console 2.1 and NetSight Inventory Manager 2.1, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted request packets that contain long file names.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2343 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the TFTPD component of Enterasys NetSight Console and NetSight Inventory Manager versions 2.1 and potentially earlier. This issue resides in the Trivial File Transfer Protocol daemon implementation that handles file transfer operations for network management systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the file name processing logic, where the application fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers. This particular implementation flaw creates a condition where an attacker can craft malicious request packets containing excessively long file names that exceed the allocated buffer space, leading to memory corruption and potential code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack overflow attack pattern where the malicious input overflows the designated buffer and overwrites adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability maps directly to stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack memory. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network management systems that are often exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the NetSight console applications, which are designed to manage and monitor network infrastructure, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for network operations and security monitoring capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain arbitrary code execution privileges on the affected systems, potentially allowing them to install backdoors, modify network configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive network management data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques such as T1059 command and scripting interpreter for execution and T1068 local persistence, as the attacker gains a foothold that can be maintained across system reboots. The affected systems typically operate as network management servers that may contain sensitive information about network topology, device configurations, and user credentials, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patch deployment from Enterasys, which would involve implementing proper input validation and buffer size enforcement within the TFTPD component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate critical network management systems from general network traffic, utilize network access control lists to restrict access to TFTP services, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous file transfer activities. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other network management applications, as the underlying architectural flaw suggests potential for similar issues in related components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly around input validation and memory management, as emphasized in industry standards such as the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST SP 800-160 guidelines for secure software development lifecycle implementation.