CVE-2007-5471 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
libgssapi before 0.6-13.7, as used by the ISC BIND named daemon in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP 1, terminates upon an initialization error, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon exit) via a GSS-TSIG request. NOTE: this issue probably affects other daemons that attempt to initialize this library within a chroot configuration or other invalid configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5471 represents a critical denial of service weakness in the gssapi library component that affects the ISC BIND named daemon running on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1 systems. This flaw specifically manifests when the library encounters an initialization error during the processing of GSS-TSIG requests, leading to an abrupt termination of the named daemon service. The issue stems from the library's improper error handling mechanism, where it fails to gracefully manage initialization failures and instead opts for a complete daemon exit rather than attempting recovery or continued operation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the interaction between the named daemon and the gssapi library during the processing of time-sensitive authentication requests. When a remote attacker sends a specially crafted GSS-TSIG request, the library's initialization process encounters an error condition that triggers an unhandled exception or fatal error state. This error condition causes the daemon to terminate its execution cycle and exit from memory, effectively removing the DNS service from operation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the library level where authentication and authorization processes are handled, making it a potential vector for service disruption attacks that can severely impact network infrastructure availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass broader system stability and network reliability concerns. When the named daemon terminates due to this initialization error, it creates an immediate gap in DNS resolution services that can affect thousands of networked devices relying on the affected system for name resolution. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where the gssapi library is initialized within chroot configurations or other restricted environments, making it relevant to a broader range of applications beyond just the ISC BIND daemon. This characteristic indicates that the issue likely affects multiple daemons and services that depend on similar library initialization patterns, potentially creating a widespread denial of service scenario across various network services.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-704 (Incorrectly Implemented Security Check) and represents a failure in proper error handling and resource management within security-critical components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and T1566.001 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage this weakness to create service disruptions that may mask more sophisticated attacks or simply cause network outages. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in defensive programming practices where error conditions are not properly anticipated and handled, leading to complete service termination instead of graceful degradation or error recovery. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of libgssapi, implementing network-level access controls to restrict GSS-TSIG request handling, and deploying monitoring systems to detect and alert on daemon termination events that could indicate exploitation attempts.