CVE-2009-0418 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
The IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) implementation in HP HP-UX B.11.11, B.11.23, and B.11.31 does not validate the origin of Neighbor Discovery messages, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (loss of connectivity), read private network traffic, and possibly execute arbitrary code via a spoofed message that modifies the Forward Information Base (FIB), a related issue to CVE-2008-2476.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0418 represents a critical flaw in the IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Protocol implementation within Hewlett-Packard HP-UX operating systems versions B.11.11, B.11.23, and B.11.31. This issue stems from the absence of proper message origin validation within the Neighbor Discovery Protocol stack, creating a fundamental security weakness that affects the core networking functionality of affected systems. The flaw specifically targets the Forward Information Base management mechanism, which serves as the routing table for IPv6 traffic and is essential for proper network communication. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the lack of authentication checks on incoming Neighbor Discovery messages, enabling them to inject malicious packets that manipulate the network routing tables without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the failure to validate the source address and message integrity of Neighbor Discovery Protocol messages. In a properly functioning IPv6 network, the Neighbor Discovery Protocol operates with strict validation mechanisms to ensure that routing updates and neighbor advertisements originate from legitimate sources. However, the HP-UX implementations lack these validation checks, allowing any remote attacker to craft and send spoofed Neighbor Discovery messages that appear to come from trusted network neighbors. This absence of validation creates a pathway for attackers to modify the Forward Information Base entries, which directly controls how packets are routed through the network infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Neighbor Advertisement and Router Advertisement message types, which are fundamental to IPv6 network operation and typically require strict authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modifications to network routing tables.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, encompassing significant security implications including potential data interception and arbitrary code execution. When attackers successfully manipulate the Forward Information Base through spoofed Neighbor Discovery messages, they can redirect network traffic to malicious endpoints, effectively enabling man-in-the-middle attacks that allow for private network traffic monitoring and interception. The ability to cause loss of connectivity represents the most immediate impact, as legitimate network traffic becomes disrupted when routing tables are manipulated to redirect packets through compromised paths. Additionally, the vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution, while not fully detailed in the original description, suggests that the manipulation of core routing tables could create conditions where attackers gain deeper system access through the exploitation of other network-based vulnerabilities. This issue directly relates to the broader category of routing attacks that can compromise network integrity and availability, with implications for both internal network security and external communication reliability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-0418 should focus on implementing proper message validation mechanisms within the IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Protocol implementation, which aligns with the principles outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration standard CWE-284 for improper access control. Network administrators should prioritize applying vendor security patches and updates that introduce proper source address validation and message authentication checks for Neighbor Discovery Protocol messages. The implementation of IPv6 security measures such as Secure Neighbor Discovery (SEND) can provide additional protection by requiring cryptographic authentication of Neighbor Discovery messages, preventing unauthorized modifications to the Forward Information Base. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous Neighbor Discovery message patterns and unauthorized routing table modifications, creating early warning systems for potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under network security attacks and routing manipulation techniques, emphasizing the need for defensive measures that protect against unauthorized network infrastructure modifications. System administrators should consider implementing access control lists and firewall rules that restrict Neighbor Discovery message processing to trusted network segments while ensuring that proper network segmentation practices are maintained to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.