CVE-2007-2998 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
The Pascal run-time library (PAS$RTL.EXE) before 20070418 on OpenVMS for Integrity Servers 8.3, and PAS$RTL.EXE before 20070419 on OpenVMS Alpha 8.3, does not properly restore PC and PSL values, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via certain Pascal code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2998 affects the Pascal run-time library component of OpenVMS operating systems, specifically impacting Integrity Servers running version 8.3 with PAS$RTL.EXE dated before 20070418 and Alpha systems with the same version dated before 20070419. This issue represents a critical flaw in the system's privilege management and execution context handling mechanisms, where the run-time library fails to properly restore program counter and processor status register values during exception handling or code execution transitions.
The technical flaw manifests when Pascal code executes certain operations that trigger the run-time library's exception handling routines. During these operations, the library does not correctly restore the program counter and processor status register values that were saved before entering the exception handler. This improper restoration leads to a corrupted execution context where the processor attempts to resume execution with invalid or inconsistent register states, ultimately causing the system to crash or become unresponsive.
This vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the operating system's execution environment and can be classified under CWE-248, which deals with an exception handler that fails to restore the processor state properly. The impact extends beyond simple system instability as the flaw can be exploited by local users to perform denial of service attacks against the target system, effectively rendering it unusable for legitimate operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the system's ability to maintain execution integrity during error conditions and exception handling scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for systems running affected OpenVMS versions, as local users with access to the system can intentionally trigger the condition to cause system crashes. This creates an environment where attackers can systematically disrupt services and potentially escalate their control over the system. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on Pascal applications and their execution environments, making it particularly dangerous for mission-critical systems where availability is paramount. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for privilege escalation through system instability, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's concept of privilege escalation through system resource manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by OpenVMS vendors to address the specific run-time library issue. Organizations should implement monitoring for unusual system crashes or restart patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Additionally, regular system auditing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other system components, particularly those involving processor state management and exception handling mechanisms that could create similar conditions for system instability.