CVE-2010-5288 in EDItran Communications Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the lsConnectionCached function in editcp in EDItran Communications Platform 4.1 R7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted packet to TCP port 7777.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5288 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the EDItran Communications Platform version 4.1 R7, specifically within the lsConnectionCached function of the editcp component. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote exploitation through unauthenticated network traffic directed at TCP port 7777, which serves as the primary communication endpoint for the platform. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the connection handling mechanism, creating a scenario where malformed data packets can overwrite adjacent memory regions beyond the intended buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the lsConnectionCached function failing to properly bounds-check incoming data before processing it within a fixed-size buffer structure. When a remote attacker sends a crafted packet containing excessive data to port 7777, the function attempts to store this data without sufficient validation, leading to memory corruption that can result in unpredictable behavior. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory to be overwritten. The exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to include arbitrary code execution, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in networked environments where the platform operates.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as either immediate daemon crashes leading to service disruption or more severe consequences involving unauthorized code execution on the affected system. When the buffer overflow occurs, it typically results in stack corruption that causes the process to terminate abruptly, thereby creating a denial of service condition that can disrupt critical communication services. However, under specific circumstances where the overflow can be precisely controlled, attackers may be able to manipulate the program execution flow to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the running daemon process. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through the manipulation of memory structures and buffer overflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the EDItran Communications Platform to the latest available version that contains the necessary memory bounds checking fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to restrict direct access to TCP port 7777 from untrusted networks, effectively reducing the attack surface. Additionally, deploying network intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed packets targeting this specific port can provide early warning of attempted exploitation. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected platform and ensure proper monitoring of daemon processes for signs of unexpected termination or unusual behavior. The implementation of input validation controls and memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities in the future.