CVE-2007-6122 in IRC Services
Summary
by MITRE
The default_encrypt function in encrypt.c in IRC Services before 5.0.63, and 5.1.x before 5.1.7, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a long password. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6122 represents a classic buffer overflow condition affecting the IRC Services software ecosystem. This issue manifests within the default_encrypt function located in the encrypt.c source file, where the software fails to properly validate input length before processing user credentials. The flaw specifically targets the password handling mechanism, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted long password inputs that exceed the allocated buffer space. This vulnerability impacts versions prior to 5.0.63 and 5.1.7, indicating a prolonged period during which the software remained susceptible to this particular attack vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and memory management practices that aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions. When a remote attacker submits an excessively long password string to the IRC Services daemon, the default_encrypt function processes this input without proper bounds checking, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in daemon termination. The attack requires no authentication privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for network services that rely on these IRC infrastructure components for user authentication and access control.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on IRC Services for network management and user authentication. The denial of service impact effectively prevents legitimate users from accessing services while simultaneously providing attackers with a reliable method for disrupting operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or prior authentication. This characteristic places the vulnerability squarely within ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting remote systems. The service disruption can potentially cascade through IRC networks, affecting multiple connected services and users depending on the infrastructure architecture.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves implementing proper input validation and buffer length checking within the default_encrypt function. Software developers should ensure that password inputs are truncated or rejected when they exceed predetermined maximum lengths, typically implemented through bounds checking mechanisms. Version updates to 5.0.63 and 5.1.7 address the issue by incorporating proper memory management practices that prevent buffer overflows during password processing. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and consider network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The fix demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as fundamental defensive measures against denial of service attacks targeting authentication services.