CVE-2008-1280 in True Image Windows Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Acronis True Image Windows Agent 1.0.0.54 and earlier, included in Acronis True Image Enterprise Server 9.5.0.8072 and the other True Image packages, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a malformed packet to port 9876, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1280 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Acronis True Image Windows Agent component that affects versions 1.0.0.54 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the Acronis True Image Enterprise Server 9.5.0.8072 and related True Image packages, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these backup solutions. The flaw manifests through a carefully crafted malformed packet that can be transmitted to port 9876, which serves as the primary communication port for the affected agent. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the network packet processing code, where the system fails to adequately sanitize incoming data before attempting to process it.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the Acronis True Image Windows Agent receives malformed network traffic on port 9876. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference issues in software implementations. When an attacker sends a specially crafted packet to the designated port, the application attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in an immediate crash of the service. The vulnerability demonstrates poor error handling practices and inadequate boundary checking mechanisms that are fundamental to secure software design principles. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to system instability and service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1280 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting critical backup operations within enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing Acronis True Image solutions may experience unexpected service interruptions that could compromise their data protection strategies, particularly during critical backup windows. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require local access or authentication credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates how attackers can leverage protocol-level weaknesses to disrupt business operations. The crash condition affects not only the specific agent process but can potentially impact the broader backup infrastructure, leading to cascading failures in data protection workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and network-level controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations must prioritize updating to the latest available versions of Acronis True Image Enterprise Server and related packages that contain fixes for this NULL pointer dereference issue. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to port 9876 from unauthorized sources, particularly in environments where the service is exposed to external networks. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms in network services, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-45 and OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability could potentially serve as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks targeting the backup infrastructure.