CVE-2008-1338 in Perforce Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Perforce service (p4s.exe) in Perforce Server 2007.3/143793 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a server-DiffFile command with an integer value within a certain range, which causes a loop until all memory is exhausted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1338 affects the Perforce Server software version 2007.3 build 143793 and earlier, specifically targeting the Perforce service component known as p4s.exe. This issue represents a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors to disrupt the availability of the Perforce version control system. The vulnerability manifests through the server-DiffFile command processing functionality, which serves as a core component for comparing file differences within the Perforce environment. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and resource management within the server daemon, creating a scenario where legitimate system operations can be disrupted through carefully crafted malicious input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values within the DiffFile command processing logic. When a remote attacker submits a server-DiffFile command containing an integer value within a specific problematic range, the Perforce service enters into an infinite loop that consumes system resources progressively. This loop continues until the system exhausts all available memory resources, causing the p4s.exe daemon to crash and resulting in complete service disruption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-128 as "Unsigned to Signed Integer Conversion Error" and specifically relates to improper handling of integer overflow conditions during file comparison operations. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of a resource exhaustion attack where computational resources are consumed in an unbounded manner without proper bounds checking or loop termination conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of version control operations within organizations relying on Perforce for software development workflows. When the p4s.exe daemon crashes due to this vulnerability, all active Perforce connections are terminated, forcing developers to re-establish their version control sessions and potentially losing unsaved work or pending operations. This disruption can severely impact development cycles, particularly in environments where continuous integration and automated build processes depend on stable Perforce connectivity. The vulnerability affects organizations using older Perforce Server versions where the specific memory management and input validation mechanisms have not been updated to prevent such resource exhaustion scenarios. From an attacker perspective, the exploit requires minimal technical skill and can be executed remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Perforce servers are accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1338 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Perforce Server installations to version 2007.4 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for the integer handling and memory management issues. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit direct access to Perforce servers from untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for anomalous DiffFile command patterns and establishing automated monitoring for service availability. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 as a denial of service attack, specifically targeting network services through resource exhaustion. System administrators should also configure proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect when the Perforce service experiences abnormal memory usage patterns. Regular security assessments of version control systems should include verification of patch levels and proper configuration of access controls to prevent unauthorized exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the broader Perforce ecosystem.