CVE-2007-6625 in Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The Platform Service Process (asampsp) in Fan-Out Driver Platform Services for Novell Identity Manager (IDM) 3.5.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via unspecified network traffic that triggers a syslog message containing invalid format string specifiers, as demonstrated by a Nessus scan.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6625 affects the Platform Service Process component within Novell Identity Manager 3.5.1's Fan-Out Driver Platform Services. This daemon process represents a critical system component responsible for managing identity synchronization and directory services within enterprise environments. The flaw manifests when the asampsp service receives malformed network traffic that contains invalid format string specifiers within syslog messages, leading to a daemon crash and subsequent denial of service condition. This vulnerability specifically targets the service's handling of log message formatting, where improper input validation allows attackers to inject malformed data that causes the process to terminate unexpectedly.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and format string handling within the Platform Service Process. When the service processes incoming network traffic containing specially crafted format specifiers, the syslog message handling code fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs before processing. This represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that occurs during string formatting operations, where the system attempts to interpret malformed format specifiers as actual format directives rather than simple text content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be triggered through network-based attacks that send specifically crafted packets to the affected service port. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-134 which describes the use of format strings with user-supplied data without proper validation, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise identity management infrastructure in enterprise environments. When the Platform Service Process crashes, it affects the entire identity synchronization pipeline, potentially causing cascading failures in directory services, user provisioning workflows, and authentication processes. Organizations relying on Novell Identity Manager for critical identity management functions may experience extended downtime while the service restarts and recovers from the crash condition. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through automated scanning tools like Nessus, making it a low-effort target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt identity services. The attack vector requires only network connectivity to the affected service, making it accessible to attackers with basic network reconnaissance capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6625 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to the affected service ports, ensuring that only authorized management systems can communicate with the Platform Service Process. Applying the official vendor patch or upgrade to a newer version of Novell Identity Manager that addresses this specific format string vulnerability represents the most effective remediation approach. Additionally, implementing input validation controls and monitoring for suspicious syslog message patterns can help detect exploitation attempts before they cause service disruption. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify the specific traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving service stoppage and denial of service attacks, representing a foundational weakness that can enable more sophisticated compromise attempts. Network administrators should monitor for unusual service restart patterns and implement automated alerting for daemon crash events that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.