CVE-2008-3864 in Internet Security 2008
Summary
by MITRE
The ApiThread function in the firewall service (aka TmPfw.exe) in Trend Micro Network Security Component (NSC) modules, as used in Trend Micro OfficeScan 8.0 SP1 Patch 1 and Internet Security 2007 and 2008 17.0.1224, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (service crash) via a packet with a large value in an unspecified size field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3864 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Trend Micro's network security infrastructure, specifically affecting the ApiThread function within the firewall service component known as TmPfw.exe. This flaw exists within the Trend Micro Network Security Component modules and impacts several versions including OfficeScan 8.0 SP1 Patch 1 and Internet Security 2007 and 2008 versions 17.0.1224. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes network packets containing malformed data structures, particularly those with excessively large values in unspecified size fields that are not properly validated or constrained.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of packet size fields that are processed by the ApiThread function during normal network traffic handling operations. When a remote attacker crafts packets with oversized values in these unspecified size fields, the firewall service fails to properly validate the input data before processing it, leading to a condition where the service becomes unstable and eventually crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, which specifically addresses weaknesses related to insufficient validation of input data that can lead to various security issues including service disruption.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Trend Micro's security solutions, as it allows remote attackers to disrupt network security services without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The service crash resulting from this vulnerability effectively creates a denial of service condition that can compromise network security monitoring and protection capabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash the firewall service, potentially causing sustained network disruption and creating opportunities for more sophisticated attacks to occur while the security service is offline.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it directly undermines the integrity of the network security infrastructure that organizations depend upon for protection against various cyber threats. When the firewall service crashes, legitimate network traffic may be blocked or delayed while the service restarts, potentially creating gaps in network security coverage. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which focuses on network denial of service attacks that can disrupt availability of network services. Organizations implementing Trend Micro solutions may experience operational challenges including increased incident response overhead, potential loss of network visibility, and compromised security posture during service outages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of vendor patches and updates to the affected Trend Micro products, implementation of network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation, and enhanced monitoring of firewall service health and availability. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious packet patterns and deploy network access controls to restrict potentially malicious traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-critical applications, as recommended by industry standards and best practices for secure software development. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other security components and establish robust incident response procedures to address potential service disruptions.