CVE-2007-3115 in MaraDNS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory leaks in server/MaraDNS.c in MaraDNS before 1.2.12.06, and 1.3.x before 1.3.05, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via (1) reverse lookups or (2) requests for records in a class other than Internet (IN), a different set of affected versions than CVE-2007-3114 and CVE-2007-3116.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3115 represents a critical memory management flaw within the MaraDNS server software that affects versions prior to 1.2.12.06 and 1.3.x prior to 1.3.05. This issue manifests as multiple memory leaks occurring in the server/MaraDNS.c file, which constitutes a fundamental security weakness in the DNS server implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of reverse lookups and requests for DNS records that fall outside the standard Internet class (IN), creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can trigger uncontrolled memory consumption patterns that ultimately lead to system instability and service disruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage improper memory deallocation mechanisms within the DNS server's request processing pipeline. When the MaraDNS server receives reverse lookup requests or queries for DNS records belonging to non-Internet classes, the software fails to properly release allocated memory resources, resulting in progressive memory consumption that can eventually exhaust available system resources. This memory leak behavior is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely by any authenticated or unauthenticated attacker who can send specially crafted DNS queries to the vulnerable server. The flaw demonstrates poor memory management practices that violate fundamental security principles and can be classified under CWE-401, which specifically addresses memory leaks in software implementations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple resource exhaustion as it can be systematically exploited to create sustained denial of service conditions that persist until the affected server is manually restarted or the system is rebooted.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3115 presents a significant threat to network availability and system stability, particularly in environments where MaraDNS serves as a critical infrastructure component for domain name resolution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to consume system memory resources at an accelerating rate, potentially leading to complete service unavailability and system crashes that can affect multiple network services dependent on DNS resolution. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network privileges to cause damage, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible DNS server deployments. Organizations running affected versions of MaraDNS face the risk of sustained denial of service attacks that can persist for extended periods, potentially causing cascading failures throughout network infrastructure that relies on proper DNS resolution. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a classic example of how memory management flaws can be weaponized to create persistent service disruption scenarios that can be difficult to detect and remediate.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3115 require immediate patching of affected MaraDNS installations to versions 1.2.12.06 or 1.3.05 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes to properly handle reverse lookups and non-Internet class requests. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to track memory consumption patterns and establish automated alerting mechanisms that can detect unusual memory usage trends that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable DNS servers to untrusted networks, while rate limiting and query filtering mechanisms can help reduce the impact of potential attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious DNS query patterns that match the vulnerability's exploitation vectors. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring proper memory deallocation for all DNS request types, including those involving reverse lookups and non-standard DNS classes, thereby preventing the accumulation of memory resources that leads to system instability and denial of service conditions.