CVE-2008-1198 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE
The default IPSec ifup script in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 through 5 configures racoon to use aggressive IKE mode instead of main IKE mode, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct brute force attacks by sniffing an unencrypted preshared key (PSK) hash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1198 represents a critical misconfiguration in the IPSec implementation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 3 through 5. This issue stems from the default IPSec ifup script that automatically configures the racoon daemon to utilize aggressive IKE mode rather than the more secure main IKE mode. The fundamental flaw lies in the cryptographic protocol selection where aggressive mode exposes the preshared key hash to network sniffing, creating an avenue for attackers to perform brute force attacks against the authentication mechanism. This misconfiguration directly violates security best practices for IPSec deployment and creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the entire IPSec tunnel establishment process.
The technical implications of this vulnerability are profound and align with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in security protocols. When racoon operates in aggressive mode, it transmits the authentication information in the initial IKE messages without proper encryption, allowing network traffic analysis tools to capture the PSK hash. This exposure enables attackers to conduct offline dictionary attacks or brute force attempts against the captured hash, significantly reducing the time and computational resources required to compromise the authentication mechanism. The vulnerability specifically targets the IKE protocol's mode selection, where aggressive mode was designed for scenarios requiring fast authentication but at the cost of reduced security, particularly in environments where network traffic can be monitored.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication compromise to encompass complete IPSec tunnel integrity and confidentiality. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can potentially establish unauthorized IPSec connections, bypass network security controls, and gain access to protected network segments. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the affected systems are operational, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where IPSec is commonly used for site-to-site and remote access VPN connections. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, creating widespread exposure across various organizational infrastructures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate configuration changes to enforce main IKE mode usage in racoon configurations, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through network protocol manipulation. Organizations must modify the IPSec ifup scripts to explicitly configure racoon to use main mode instead of aggressive mode, ensuring that all authentication information remains encrypted throughout the IKE negotiation process. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual IKE traffic patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security audits to identify all systems running affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions and ensure that proper cryptographic configurations are applied across the entire infrastructure to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments.