CVE-2007-3151 in PacketShaper
Summary
by MITRE
rpttop.htm in the web management interface in Packeteer PacketShaper 7.3.0g2 and 7.5.0g1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reboot) via a request with empty values of the OP.MEAS.DATAQUERY and MEAS.TYPE parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3151 affects the Packeteer PacketShaper web management interface version 7.3.0g2 and 7.5.0g1, specifically targeting the rpttop.htm component. This flaw represents a denial of service condition that can be exploited remotely by attackers to force device reboots, effectively disrupting network monitoring and traffic management services. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the web interface's parameter handling mechanism, where the system fails to properly process requests containing empty values for critical parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the OP.MEAS.DATAQUERY and MEAS.TYPE parameters within the web management interface. When these parameters are submitted with empty values, the PacketShaper device processes these malformed requests without proper sanitization or validation checks. This lack of input validation creates a condition where the device's internal processing logic becomes unstable when encountering empty parameter values, ultimately leading to a system crash and subsequent device reboot. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices and insufficient parameter validation within the web application layer.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network infrastructure reliability and availability. Network administrators relying on PacketShaper for traffic monitoring and management would face unexpected service disruptions when attackers exploit this weakness. The remote nature of the attack means that unauthorized parties could potentially cause service outages without requiring physical access or local network presence. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, as it can render network monitoring capabilities unusable for extended periods, potentially masking network issues or security incidents during the reboot cycle.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-129, improper validation of array indices, as the system likely fails to validate parameter boundaries during request processing. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," where adversaries can cause devices to become unavailable through exploitation of software weaknesses. The attack surface is particularly concerning for network security operations centers that depend on continuous monitoring capabilities, as the device reboot can interrupt critical network visibility and traffic analysis functions.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of firmware updates from Packeteer to address the input validation deficiencies. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the web management interface, restricting access to trusted administrative networks only. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malformed requests and monitoring network traffic for suspicious parameter patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in web applications and underscores the necessity of proper error handling in network management interfaces to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in other network devices and applications.