CVE-2010-3302 in Openswan
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in programs/pluto/xauth.c in the client in Openswan 2.6.25 through 2.6.28 might allow remote authenticated gateways to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via long (1) cisco_dns_info or (2) cisco_domain_info data in a packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3302 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Openswan IPsec implementation, specifically affecting versions 2.6.25 through 2.6.28. This flaw exists in the client-side component located in programs/pluto/xauth.c, which handles authentication processes for IPsec gateways. The vulnerability manifests when remote authenticated gateways send specially crafted packets containing excessively long cisco_dns_info or cisco_domain_info data fields. This represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where insufficient input validation allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the xauth.c module's handling of Cisco-specific authentication information. When the system processes incoming packets containing these extended data fields, the buffer allocation does not properly validate the length of the cisco_dns_info or cisco_domain_info parameters. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where authenticated remote attackers can leverage their gateway credentials to send maliciously formatted packets that trigger the buffer overflow condition during packet processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential remote code execution capabilities. An authenticated attacker with access to a gateway can exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code on the affected Openswan system, potentially compromising the entire IPsec infrastructure. This represents a significant threat to network security as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive network communications. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and authorization mechanisms of the IPsec implementation, potentially undermining the security posture of any network relying on Openswan for secure communications. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution and T1499 for endpoint disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3302 require immediate patching of affected Openswan installations to versions beyond 2.6.28 where the buffer overflow has been addressed. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit which authenticated gateways can interact with critical IPsec infrastructure, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for unusual packet patterns containing extended DNS or domain information fields can help detect attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed IPsec packets and automatically block suspicious traffic. The fix implemented in later versions typically involves proper input validation and bounds checking for the Cisco-specific authentication data fields, ensuring that memory allocations properly account for maximum expected data lengths. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software versions within the network infrastructure.