CVE-2012-3277 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
HP OpenVMS 8.3, 8.3-1H1, and 8.4 on the Itanium platform and 7.3-2, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 on the Alpha platform does not properly implement the LOGIN and ACME_SERVER ACMELOGIN programs, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3277 affects Hewlett Packard OpenVMS operating systems across multiple versions and hardware platforms, specifically targeting the LOGIN and ACME_SERVER ACMELOGIN programs. This issue represents a significant security concern for organizations relying on HP OpenVMS systems, particularly those utilizing the Itanium platform in versions 8.3, 8.3-1H1, and 8.4, as well as the Alpha platform in versions 7.3-2, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4. The flaw lies in the improper implementation of authentication and login mechanisms that form the foundation of system access control.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate handling within the LOGIN and ACMELOGIN programs that govern user authentication processes in the OpenVMS environment. These programs are responsible for validating user credentials and establishing secure session connections, yet the vulnerability allows malicious actors to exploit unspecified vectors that lead to system instability. The improper implementation likely involves insufficient input validation, inadequate error handling, or flawed state management within the authentication routines that process login requests from remote sources. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the authentication flow and potentially disrupt normal system operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected OpenVMS systems, effectively rendering them unavailable to legitimate users and authorized personnel. The denial of service condition can result in complete system unavailability, requiring manual intervention and system restarts to restore normal operations. Organizations running critical applications on these platforms face significant business disruption risks, particularly in environments where system uptime is paramount for operational continuity. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access or prior system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in connected environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how authentication system flaws can lead to system availability compromise. From an attacker perspective, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, specifically covering network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1566.001 for initial access through network services. The lack of specific vector details in the original description suggests that multiple attack pathways may exist, potentially including malformed login requests, buffer overflow conditions, or resource exhaustion attacks that exploit weaknesses in the authentication program implementations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict access to login services, and monitoring for anomalous authentication patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying official HP security patches and updates as released through the vendor's security advisory channels. System administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls such as limiting login attempts, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring login activities for suspicious patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication system implementation and highlights the critical need for thorough security testing of core system components that handle user access and session management. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other authentication-related programs and ensure that all OpenVMS systems are updated to versions that address this specific flaw.