CVE-2007-3701 in Tipping Point
Summary
by MITRE
TippingPoint IPS before 20070710 does not properly handle a hex-encoded alternate Unicode / (slash) character, which might allow remote attackers to send certain network traffic and avoid detection, as demonstrated by a cmd.exe attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3701 affects TippingPoint intrusion prevention systems running firmware versions prior to 20070710. This weakness represents a significant bypass issue within network security monitoring capabilities, specifically targeting how the system processes and detects malicious network traffic. The flaw exploits a specific handling mechanism for Unicode character encoding that allows attackers to manipulate packet inspection processes through hex-encoded alternate representations of forward slash characters. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern network security systems where encoding variations can be leveraged to evade detection mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper parsing of hex-encoded Unicode alternate representations of the forward slash character within network traffic inspection routines. When network packets contain this specific encoding pattern, the TippingPoint IPS system fails to properly normalize or identify the encoded character sequence, allowing malicious traffic to slip through detection mechanisms undetected. The attack vector specifically targets the command execution component where cmd.exe is used as the demonstration payload, indicating that the vulnerability enables attackers to bypass security controls and execute malicious commands through network traffic that would normally be blocked or flagged by the intrusion prevention system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple detection evasion, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of network security systems that rely on consistent pattern matching and character normalization. Attackers exploiting this weakness can craft network traffic that appears benign to the IPS system while actually containing malicious payloads designed to execute commands on target systems. This capability represents a critical compromise in network defense architecture, as it allows adversaries to establish persistent access or execute commands without triggering security alerts that would normally be generated by such activities. The vulnerability essentially creates a blind spot within the network monitoring system that can be exploited for extended periods without detection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3701 require immediate firmware updates to TippingPoint IPS systems to versions released after 20070710, which contain proper handling of Unicode character encoding variations. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual command execution patterns or unusual encoding sequences in network traffic. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-180, which addresses issues related to improper handling of character encoding and normalization in security systems, and demonstrates techniques that could be mapped to ATT&CK tactics such as defense evasion and execution through network-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional traffic filtering rules as compensating controls while waiting for firmware updates to reduce the potential impact of exploitation attempts.