CVE-2007-2468 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP OpenVMS for Integrity Servers 8.2-1 and 8.3 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) via "Program actions relating to exceptions."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2468 represents a critical flaw within HP OpenVMS operating system versions 8.2-1 and 8.3 that specifically affects Integrity Servers. This issue falls under the category of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities where an attacker with local access can manipulate program execution to trigger system instability. The vulnerability is classified as a denial of service condition that results in system crashes, effectively rendering the affected server unusable and disrupting critical business operations. The flaw manifests specifically during program actions related to exception handling mechanisms, indicating that the vulnerability is deeply embedded within the operating system's runtime error management subsystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of exception conditions within the OpenVMS kernel. When programs execute and encounter specific exception scenarios, the system's exception handling routines fail to properly validate or process these conditions, leading to memory corruption or stack overflow situations. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability exploits the way the system processes exception-related program actions, where malformed or specially crafted exception conditions can cause the operating system to execute invalid memory operations or corrupt critical system structures. The attack vector requires local system access, making it a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be leveraged by malicious users with existing system credentials.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments relying on HP OpenVMS Integrity Servers for mission-critical applications. The denial of service condition can result in complete system crashes requiring manual intervention and system restarts, potentially causing extended downtime for business-critical processes. Organizations utilizing these systems may experience service interruptions that affect database operations, transaction processing, and other essential server functions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple availability concerns as system crashes can lead to data corruption or loss if processes are terminated unexpectedly during critical operations. Network administrators and system operators must account for potential service disruptions and implement monitoring solutions to detect abnormal system behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1499 technique for network denial of service attacks. The local privilege escalation nature of the vulnerability means that attackers with minimal access can potentially disrupt system availability, making it a valuable target for adversaries seeking to cause operational disruption. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems to address the underlying exception handling flaws in the OpenVMS kernel. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect abnormal exception handling patterns or system instability indicators. Additional protective measures include restricting local system access through proper user privilege management, implementing application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized program execution, and establishing robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize downtime impact. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date system patches and the critical need for comprehensive security testing of operating system exception handling mechanisms to prevent similar issues from arising in production environments.