CVE-2008-3175 in Brightstor Arcserve Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Integer underflow in rxRPC.dll in the LGServer service in the server in CA ARCserve Backup for Laptops and Desktops 11.0 through 11.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted message that triggers a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3175 represents a critical integer underflow condition within the rxRPC.dll component of the LGServer service in CA ARCserve Backup for Laptops and Desktops versions 11.0 through 11.5. This flaw exists in the remote procedure call implementation that handles network communications for backup operations, creating a dangerous scenario where malicious actors can manipulate integer values to cause unexpected behavior in memory management. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-191 Integer Underflow (Wrap) which specifically addresses situations where signed integer values wrap around to negative numbers when decremented below their minimum value, leading to unpredictable program behavior and potential exploitation opportunities.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker sends a specially crafted message to the LGServer service that triggers an integer underflow condition within the rxRPC.dll library. This condition causes the application to miscalculate buffer sizes or array indices, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service or cause a denial of service through application crash. The flaw specifically manifests in the handling of network packets where integer variables representing buffer lengths or message sizes are not properly validated before being used in memory allocation or array indexing operations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise backup infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects enterprise backup environments where CA ARCserve Backup serves as a critical component for data protection and recovery operations. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to backup servers, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or complete disruption of backup services. Organizations relying on this backup solution may face significant operational disruption if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, as backup systems are often essential for business continuity and disaster recovery planning. The vulnerability also presents challenges for network security teams who must monitor and protect these backup services while maintaining their availability for legitimate business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3175 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with vendor-provided security updates and implementation of network segmentation to limit access to backup services. Organizations should consider disabling unnecessary network services and implementing strict access controls for the LGServer service to reduce attack surface. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns or malformed packets that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper integer handling in security-critical applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar integer overflow and underflow conditions in other enterprise applications and services that may be similarly vulnerable to remote code execution attacks.