CVE-2007-5241 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in NET$CSMACD.EXE in HP OpenVMS 8.3 and earlier allows local users to cause a denial of service (machine crash) via the "MCR MCL SHOW CSMA-CD Port * All" command, which overwrites a Non-Paged Pool Packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5241 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the NET$CSMACD.EXE component of HP OpenVMS operating systems version 8.3 and earlier. This flaw exists in the network management functionality that handles CSMA-CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) port monitoring commands, specifically when executing the "MCR MCL SHOW CSMA-CD Port * All" administrative directive. The buffer overflow occurs within the Non-Paged Pool Packet structure, which is a critical memory management component that maintains system stability and prevents memory corruption during kernel operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue that violates fundamental security principles and can be exploited through legitimate administrative commands, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where system stability is paramount.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of insufficient bounds checking within the NET$CSMACD.EXE module when processing command line arguments for the CSMA-CD port monitoring functionality. When a local user executes the specific command sequence mentioned in the CVE description, the system fails to properly validate the length of input parameters, allowing malicious or malformed input to overflow the allocated buffer space within the Non-Paged Pool Packet memory region. This overflow corrupts adjacent memory structures and can cause the operating system kernel to crash, resulting in immediate system termination and complete denial of service. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests in kernel memory space rather than user-space stack memory. The attack vector is local privilege escalation, requiring only user-level access to execute the command, which makes it particularly concerning for systems where local user accounts may be compromised or where privileged users are not properly isolated.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5241 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete system reliability degradation and potential data loss scenarios. When the machine crashes due to this buffer overflow, it can result in loss of ongoing network operations, interrupted services, and potential corruption of system logs or network monitoring data that would otherwise be available for forensic analysis. The vulnerability affects systems running HP OpenVMS 8.3 and earlier versions, which were widely deployed in enterprise environments and critical infrastructure systems where uptime is essential. Network administrators and system operators face the challenge of maintaining service availability while applying patches or workarounds, as these older operating systems may not support modern patching methodologies. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries exploit system weaknesses to disrupt network operations and availability. Organizations running affected systems must consider the broader implications for their network infrastructure, as a single compromised local account could potentially bring down entire network segments or critical services that depend on the affected OpenVMS systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5241 should focus on both immediate operational responses and long-term system hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the official HP security patches and updates released for HP OpenVMS versions 8.4 and later, which contain fixes for the buffer overflow conditions in NET$CSMACD.EXE. System administrators should also implement strict command execution controls and monitoring for administrative commands, particularly those involving network management functions that could trigger the vulnerable code paths. Access controls and privilege separation should be enforced to limit local user access to administrative commands, reducing the attack surface for exploitation. Network segmentation and monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated patch management processes and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for legacy systems and demonstrates the critical need for proper input validation and memory management practices in kernel-level code, particularly in operating systems that support mission-critical applications and infrastructure.