CVE-2008-0401 in Tivoli Provisioning Manager Os Deployment
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the logging functionality of the HTTP server in IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment (TPMfOSD) before 5.1.0.3 Interim Fix 3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request with a long method string to port 443/tcp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0401 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the logging mechanism of IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment HTTP server component. This security weakness exists in versions prior to 5.1.0.3 Interim Fix 3 and specifically targets the daemon process running on port 443/tcp. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the HTTP request processing pipeline where the server fails to properly handle excessively long method strings in HTTP requests. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates a classic buffer overflow condition where memory allocated for storing HTTP method names exceeds its boundaries when processing malformed requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the HTTP server's logging functionality receiving an HTTP request containing an abnormally long method string that exceeds the allocated buffer size. When the server attempts to process and log this malformed request, the excessive data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting critical program state information. This condition can manifest as either a daemon crash resulting in denial of service or more critically, arbitrary code execution if the overflow allows an attacker to overwrite return addresses or function pointers within the call stack. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates on the standard HTTPS port, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring special network privileges or authentication.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment as it can be exploited remotely to disrupt critical provisioning operations. The denial of service aspect directly impacts availability of the provisioning services, potentially causing deployment failures and system maintenance disruptions. The potential for arbitrary code execution elevates this vulnerability to a critical security risk, as attackers could gain unauthorized access to the provisioning server and potentially escalate privileges to execute malicious commands within the system context. This vulnerability affects enterprise environments where automated OS deployment processes are critical for system management and infrastructure provisioning.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided Interim Fix 3 for IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment to address the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of port 443 to trusted networks only, while implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP request patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to stack-based and heap-based buffer overflows respectively, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate credentials and T1499 for network disruption. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications and to ensure proper memory management practices are implemented throughout the system architecture.