CVE-2012-2267 in Helix Server
Summary
by MITRE
master.exe in the SNMP Master Agent in RealNetworks Helix Server and Helix Mobile Server 14.x before 14.3.x allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) by establishing and closing a port-705 TCP connection, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-1923.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2267 affects the SNMP Master Agent component within RealNetworks Helix Server and Helix Mobile Server versions 14.x prior to 14.3.x. This issue represents a denial of service vulnerability that specifically targets the master.exe daemon responsible for managing SNMP operations within the server infrastructure. The vulnerability manifests when remote attackers exploit a particular pattern of TCP connection handling on port 705, which is commonly associated with SNMP operations and network management protocols.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of TCP connection lifecycle events within the SNMP Master Agent implementation. When an attacker establishes a TCP connection to port 705 and subsequently closes it abruptly, the master.exe process fails to properly manage this connection state transition, leading to a daemon crash and subsequent service disruption. This represents a classic resource management vulnerability where the application does not adequately validate or handle connection termination sequences, causing the process to enter an unstable state that results in complete service failure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on RealNetworks Helix Server for media streaming and network management services. The denial of service condition effectively renders the SNMP monitoring capabilities of the server inoperative, which can mask other security issues or prevent administrators from monitoring system health. Additionally, the vulnerability affects both Helix Server and Helix Mobile Server deployments, expanding the potential attack surface for malicious actors targeting multimedia infrastructure components. The fact that this is a separate vulnerability from CVE-2012-1923 indicates that multiple distinct flaws exist within the SNMP implementation, suggesting a broader architectural weakness in how the system handles network protocols.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a restricted environment, and more specifically relates to CWE-400 which covers uncontrolled resource consumption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1566 which involves initial access through phishing or malicious network connections. The attack vector requires only basic network connectivity to port 705 and does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the affected systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to port 705, deploying firewall rules to limit TCP connection attempts to this port, and applying the vendor patch released in Helix Server 14.3.x. Additionally, monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual connection patterns to port 705, and administrators should consider disabling SNMP functionality if it is not required for operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in network services, particularly those handling connection state transitions in server environments. Regular vulnerability assessments and network scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network management components within the infrastructure.