CVE-2007-2522 in Etrust Pestpatrol
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the inoweb Console Server in CA Anti-Virus for the Enterprise r8, Threat Manager r8, Anti-Spyware for the Enterprise r8, and Protection Suites r3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long (1) username or (2) password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2522 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the inoweb Console Server component of CA Anti-Virus for the Enterprise r8, Threat Manager r8, Anti-Spyware for the Enterprise r8, and Protection Suites r3 software products. This vulnerability exists in the authentication handling mechanism where the system fails to properly validate input lengths for username and password parameters. The flaw stems from improper bounds checking in the stack memory allocation process, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input exceeding the allocated buffer space can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices involving insufficient validation of input data length before copying it into fixed-length buffers. The affected software components are part of enterprise security solutions that manage network-wide antivirus and anti-spyware protection, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit the buffer overflow by sending specially crafted authentication requests containing excessively long username or password strings. When the system processes these inputs, the stack buffer overflow occurs during the authentication validation process, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical memory structures. The attack vector is remote and does not require any local privileges, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where these security products are deployed. The exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected service account, which typically runs with elevated permissions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The stack-based nature of the overflow provides attackers with predictable memory layout characteristics that can be leveraged for successful exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure integrity. Organizations using affected CA security products face potential complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to protected network resources. The vulnerability affects multiple components of the CA security suite, meaning that exploitation could potentially impact antivirus, anti-spyware, and threat management functionalities simultaneously. Attackers could use this vulnerability to gain persistence within the network, escalate privileges, or establish backdoors for continued access. The impact is particularly severe given that these products are typically deployed in critical network security positions where they control and monitor enterprise-wide security policies. Organizations may experience service disruption, data loss, and compliance violations if exploited successfully. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation practices and highlights the importance of robust security testing and code review processes for enterprise security software. The attack requires no special privileges or local access, making it accessible to any remote attacker with knowledge of the target system configuration.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts. The recommended approach includes disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strong access controls, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise security products. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their entire security infrastructure to identify potential similar weaknesses, as this vulnerability may indicate broader issues with input validation and memory management in the affected software suite. Additionally, implementing proper network monitoring and logging practices can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for incident response activities. The incident should be documented according to industry best practices and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance with information security standards.