CVE-2007-3374 in Cluster Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in cluster/cman/daemon/daemon.c in cman (redhat-cluster-suite) before 20070622 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via long client messages.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3374 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the cman component of the Red Hat Cluster Suite, specifically in the cluster/cman/daemon/daemon.c source file. This issue affects versions prior to 20070622 and demonstrates a classic security weakness that can be exploited by local attackers to compromise system stability and potentially gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability resides in the daemon process responsible for cluster management operations, making it a significant concern for high availability systems that depend on cluster functionality.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the cman daemon processes client messages without proper bounds checking on input data. When a local user sends a message that exceeds the allocated buffer size, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting critical program state or executing arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates within a privileged daemon process that typically runs with elevated system permissions, providing potential attack vectors for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3374 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability can be exploited to cause system crashes and potentially enable arbitrary code execution. Local users who can submit client messages to the cman daemon can trigger this condition, making it particularly concerning for systems where untrusted users might have access to cluster communication interfaces. The daemon.c file serves as a central point for cluster communication management, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise entire cluster operations and potentially affect multiple nodes within the cluster environment. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1499, covering 'Endpoint Denial of Service' scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches that were released in version 20070622 of the Red Hat Cluster Suite. System administrators should immediately update their cluster environments to ensure the patched version is deployed across all nodes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the daemon process can serve as defensive measures against similar vulnerabilities in the future. Network segmentation and privilege separation techniques can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while monitoring for unusual client message patterns can provide early detection of attempted exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls to restrict which processes can communicate with the cman daemon and establish regular security assessments of cluster management components to identify potential buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other system components.