CVE-2007-2957 in E-Business Server
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in McAfee E-Business Server before 8.5.3 for Solaris, and before 8.1.2 for Linux, HP-UX, and AIX, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large length value in an authentication packet, which results in a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2957 represents a critical security flaw in McAfee E-Business Server versions prior to specific patches for multiple operating systems including Solaris, Linux, HP-UX, and AIX. This issue stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing authentication packets, creating a pathway for remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to manipulate the system from external networks without requiring prior authentication, making it a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation within the authentication packet processing module of the McAfee E-Business Server. When an attacker sends a specially crafted authentication packet containing an excessively large length value, the system fails to properly handle the integer overflow condition. This overflow results in a heap-based buffer overflow, where the system attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. The heap corruption creates opportunities for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the E-Business Server platform. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations running multiple operating systems, making it particularly concerning for heterogeneous enterprise environments that deploy the same software across different platforms. The integer overflow specifically maps to CWE-190, which represents integer overflow and underflow conditions, while the resulting heap-based buffer overflow aligns with CWE-119, indicating improper handling of memory buffers.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1210 technique for exploiting weaknesses in remote services, and the T1059 technique for command and script injection. The attack surface is particularly broad as it affects multiple operating systems and can be exploited remotely, making it attractive to both automated attacks and targeted threat actors. Organizations using affected versions of McAfee E-Business Server face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations, especially in industries with strict security requirements such as financial services, healthcare, and government sectors.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of patches provided by McAfee for all affected versions of the E-Business Server across all supported operating systems. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable server, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication packet patterns, and conduct thorough security assessments of their enterprise infrastructure. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network access controls to restrict remote access to the server and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in security-critical applications, particularly those handling authentication and authorization functions within enterprise environments.