CVE-2007-4666 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the server in Firebird before 2.0.2, when a Superserver/TCP/IP environment is configured, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and memory consumption) via "large network packets with garbage", aka CORE-1397.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4666 represents a critical denial of service weakness in the Firebird database server software affecting versions prior to 2.0.2. This flaw specifically manifests within Superserver/TCP/IP configurations where the database server fails to properly handle malformed network traffic. The vulnerability operates through the injection of large network packets containing garbage data, which causes the server to consume excessive CPU resources and memory allocation. This type of attack falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks that aim to disrupt service availability by consuming system resources faster than they can be replenished.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the Firebird server's network packet processing routines. When the server receives oversized packets with malformed data structures, it attempts to parse and process this garbage data without adequate bounds checking or sanitization procedures. This processing behavior creates a condition where the server's memory management system becomes overwhelmed with unnecessary allocations while the CPU cycles are consumed in futile parsing operations. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, where inadequate validation leads to excessive resource consumption. The attack vector specifically targets the TCP/IP communication layer of the Superserver configuration, making it particularly dangerous in networked database environments where multiple clients may connect simultaneously.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database infrastructure availability. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to initiate sustained denial of service attacks that gradually consume system resources until the server becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations, as it can be exploited by unauthorized users to render database services inaccessible. The resource consumption patterns suggest that attackers could maintain prolonged attacks without detection, as the server's normal operational behavior becomes increasingly degraded rather than immediately failing. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, which specifically addresses resource exhaustion attacks targeting network services.
Organizations utilizing Firebird databases in Superserver/TCP/IP configurations should prioritize immediate remediation through patching to version 2.0.2 or later, as this represents the most effective mitigation strategy. Additionally, network-level protections such as packet filtering and rate limiting can provide temporary defensive measures while patches are deployed. Implementing monitoring solutions that track unusual CPU and memory consumption patterns can help detect exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource management in database server implementations, serving as a reminder that even well-established database systems can contain critical flaws in their network handling components. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of database servers to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries.