CVE-2007-2502 in ProCurve 9300m
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP ProCurve 9300m Series switches with software 08.0.01c through 08.0.01j allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via unknown vectors, a different switch series than CVE-2006-4015.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2502 affects HP ProCurve 9300m Series network switches operating within firmware versions 08.0.01c through 08.0.01j. This designation indicates a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected network infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically targets the 9300m series switches while maintaining distinctions from the previously identified CVE-2006-4015, which affected different switch series within the ProCurve line. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the underlying technical flaw may involve multiple potential pathways that could be exploited to disrupt normal switch operations. Network administrators should recognize this vulnerability as part of a broader pattern of security weaknesses affecting HP networking equipment during this firmware development cycle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely resides within the switch's network protocol handling mechanisms or system resource management functions. Given that the attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access or authentication credentials, the flaw represents a significant threat to network availability and business continuity. The affected firmware versions share common code bases and architectural components that may contain buffer overflows, memory corruption issues, or improper input validation routines that could be exploited through crafted network packets or management communications. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory management and improper handling of memory access patterns. The remote exploitability characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire network segments that rely on these switches for connectivity and traffic management. When exploited successfully, attackers can cause the affected switches to become unresponsive, restart automatically, or fail to forward network traffic properly, leading to widespread network outages and service interruptions. The attack vectors may involve sending malformed packets to switch management interfaces, exploiting protocol implementation flaws, or triggering memory exhaustion conditions that cause the switch operating system to crash. Organizations running these vulnerable switches face significant risk to their network availability and may experience cascading failures if the affected switches serve as core network components within their infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in multiple firmware versions within the 08.0.01c through 08.0.01j range suggests a systemic issue that requires immediate remediation across all affected deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2502 should prioritize immediate firmware upgrades to versions that have been patched to address this vulnerability. Network administrators must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected switches within their environment and prioritize remediation efforts based on network criticality and exposure levels. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate vulnerable switches from critical network segments, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns, and establishing network access controls to limit management interface access. The remediation process should follow vendor security advisories and ensure that firmware updates are applied consistently across all affected devices while maintaining proper change management procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect switch restarts or unusual behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the remote nature of the vulnerability, network administrators must evaluate their existing network security controls and consider implementing additional layers of protection such as network access control lists and management interface restrictions to minimize exposure windows during the remediation process.