CVE-2008-2122 in Rational Build Forge
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Build Forge 7.0.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a port scan, which spawns multiple bfagent server processes that attempt to read data from closed sockets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2015
IBM Rational Build Forge version 7.0.2 contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack through strategic port scanning techniques. This vulnerability manifests when the system encounters port scan attempts that trigger the spawning of multiple bfagent server processes, creating a cascading effect that consumes excessive CPU resources and ultimately leads to system unresponsiveness. The flaw stems from the software's inadequate handling of connection states during network scanning activities, specifically when attempting to read data from sockets that have already been closed by the remote scanning entity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through a process exploitation mechanism that leverages the software's agent management system. When a port scan is conducted against the Rational Build Forge server, the bfagent processes fail to properly terminate or handle connection failures, resulting in resource exhaustion. Each attempted connection from the scanning tool spawns a new agent process that remains active and attempts to read from closed socket connections, creating a resource drain that can escalate to complete system denial of service. This behavior represents a classic example of resource exhaustion through improper state management and connection handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system stability and availability concerns within enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing Rational Build Forge for continuous integration and build automation processes face significant risk when this vulnerability exists, as it can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt critical development workflows and build operations. The CPU consumption pattern typically manifests as sustained high utilization levels that may persist until manual intervention occurs or the system becomes completely unresponsive. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where build servers are exposed to external networks or where security scanning activities are common.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses improper resource management and specifically covers issues related to uncontrolled resource consumption. The attack vector maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to Rational Build Forge servers, deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for port scanning activities, and application-level rate limiting to prevent excessive process spawning. Additionally, regular patching and updating of Rational Build Forge installations to versions that address this specific vulnerability should be prioritized. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper socket connection handling and resource cleanup mechanisms in enterprise software development, particularly for systems that manage multiple concurrent processes and network connections.