CVE-2009-2597 in Java System Access Manager Policy Agent
Summary
by MITRE
The Sun Java System (SJS) Access Manager Policy Agent module 2.2 for SJS Web Proxy Server 4.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2597 affects the Sun Java System Access Manager Policy Agent module version 2.2 when integrated with Sun Java System Web Proxy Server version 4.0. This flaw represents a significant security weakness within the access management infrastructure that could be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability specifically targets the policy agent component responsible for enforcing access control policies within the web proxy environment, creating a potential attack vector that could compromise the operational integrity of protected web services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the GET request processing mechanism of the policy agent module. When a remote attacker crafts and submits a specially malformed GET request to the affected web proxy server, the system fails to properly handle the malformed input and subsequently crashes the daemon process. This behavior constitutes a classic buffer overflow or input handling vulnerability that allows an attacker to trigger an uncontrolled termination of the policy agent service. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor error handling practices in the proxy server's request parsing logic, where insufficient sanitization of incoming HTTP requests leads to daemon instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it creates a potential avenue for more sophisticated attacks within the broader security landscape. When the daemon crashes, legitimate users lose access to protected resources while the system becomes temporarily unavailable, which could be exploited as part of a larger attack campaign. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad and could be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more comprehensive compromise scenarios. From an attacker perspective, this represents a low-effort method to cause service degradation, making it particularly attractive for malicious actors seeking to disrupt operations without requiring advanced technical capabilities.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack frameworks such as those described in the MITRE ATT&CK methodology, where this flaw could represent a component of initial access or persistence phases within a multi-stage attack. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions in memory management, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that can lead to daemon crashes. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching the affected components to the latest available versions, implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to the proxy server, and establishing monitoring mechanisms to detect abnormal daemon behavior. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed GET requests and implementing rate limiting mechanisms can help reduce the attack surface while maintaining service availability.
The remediation strategy should prioritize the immediate application of vendor patches and updates to the Sun Java System Web Proxy Server and Access Manager components. System administrators must also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their network infrastructure that might be running similar configurations. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be updated to include specific protocols for handling daemon crash events and service restoration processes. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to maintain awareness of similar weaknesses that may exist within the broader enterprise infrastructure.