CVE-2013-0509 in Tivoli Netcool System Service Monitors
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Transaction MIB agent in IBM Tivoli Netcool System Service Monitors (SSM) and Application Service Monitors (ASM) 4.0.0 before FP14 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a SQL transaction with a long table name that is not properly handled by a packet decoder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0509 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within IBM Tivoli Netcool System Service Monitors and Application Service Monitors version 4.0.0 prior to FP14. This issue specifically affects the Transaction MIB agent component that handles SQL transaction data processing, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these monitoring systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the packet decoder responsible for processing SQL transaction data, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these monitoring systems interact with various database services and network protocols.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious SQL transaction containing an excessively long table name that exceeds the allocated buffer size in the Transaction MIB agent. This buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected service. The flaw exists in the packet decoding logic that processes incoming SQL transaction data without proper bounds checking or input sanitization, creating a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to compromise the integrity and availability of the monitoring infrastructure itself. Organizations using IBM Tivoli Netcool SSM and ASM systems face potential data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to critical network monitoring data. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly attractive for cybercriminals targeting enterprise infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised monitoring agent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0509 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided fix FP14 for IBM Tivoli Netcool SSM and ASM 4.0.0, which addresses the buffer overflow in the Transaction MIB agent. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these monitoring systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring for suspicious SQL transaction patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary SQL transaction processing features, implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for malformed packet patterns, and maintaining comprehensive network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior in the affected systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of timely patch management and proper input validation in enterprise monitoring infrastructure, particularly for systems handling sensitive operational data and database transaction information.