CVE-2012-1662 in ARCserve Backup
Summary
by MITRE
CA ARCserve Backup r12.0 through SP2, r12.5 before SP2, r15 through SP1, and r16 before SP1 on Windows allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (service shutdown) via a crafted network request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1662 affects CA ARCserve Backup versions ranging from r12.0 through SP2, r12.5 before SP2, r15 through SP1, and r16 before SP1 on Windows systems. This issue represents a significant security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against the backup service. The vulnerability specifically targets the network communication protocols implemented within the ARCserve Backup software, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to disrupt critical backup operations without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The flaw manifests when the system processes malformed network requests that trigger unexpected behavior in the service handling mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation within the network request processing components of the ARCserve Backup service. When the software receives a crafted network request containing malformed data structures or unexpected parameter values, the service fails to properly handle these inputs and subsequently terminates its operation. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and CWE-170, which covers issues related to improper handling of input that could lead to service disruption. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a buffer over-read or improper input sanitization that causes the service to crash when processing maliciously constructed network traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can severely compromise backup operations and data protection capabilities within enterprise environments. Organizations relying on ARCserve Backup for critical data protection may experience complete service shutdowns during peak backup windows, potentially leading to extended recovery periods and data loss scenarios. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed backup services. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, potentially causing business disruption and compliance violations in regulated environments where backup systems must remain operational.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1662 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to backup services and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.002, which addresses spearphishing with social engineering techniques that could be used to deliver crafted network requests. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules to restrict access to backup service ports and establish monitoring protocols to detect service shutdown events. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other enterprise backup solutions and implement comprehensive backup testing procedures to ensure recovery capabilities remain intact during potential exploitation attempts.