CVE-2007-6099 in SIParator
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Ingate Firewall before 4.6.0 and SIParator before 4.6.0 might leave "media pinholes" open upon a restart of the SIP module, which might make it easier for remote attackers to conduct unauthorized activities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6099 represents a critical security flaw in Ingate Firewall and SIParator software versions prior to 4.6.0. This issue specifically relates to the improper handling of media session management during system restarts, creating persistent security weaknesses that could be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper resource management and session handling, which are commonly addressed through proper implementation of security controls and robust session lifecycle management practices.
The technical flaw manifests when the SIP module is restarted, leaving what are termed "media pinholes" open in the firewall's packet filtering rules. These pinholes represent temporary openings in the network security posture that should normally be closed when the SIP module restarts. The persistence of these openings creates opportunities for attackers to establish unauthorized connections or intercept media streams that would otherwise be protected by the firewall's security policies. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper resource cleanup, as the system fails to properly tear down network connections that were established during the previous operational state.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for remote adversaries who can exploit the open media pinholes to conduct various unauthorized activities. Attackers could potentially perform man-in-the-middle attacks on VoIP communications, gain access to sensitive media data, or establish unauthorized network connections that bypass normal security controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during routine system operations such as module restarts, making it difficult to predict and prevent. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-665 improper initialization and CWE-119 improper access control, both of which are classified as high-risk security issues in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates techniques commonly associated with the attack pattern identified as T1046 network service scanning and T1566 credential harvesting, as attackers can leverage the open media pinholes to establish persistent access to network resources. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, eavesdropping on communications, and disruption of network services. Organizations using affected versions of Ingate Firewall and SIParator should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns, and deploying additional security controls to mitigate the risk. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper session management and resource cleanup in security-critical applications, particularly those handling real-time communications where network connectivity must be carefully controlled and monitored.