CVE-2013-3707 in Open Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTPSTK service in the novell-nrm package before 2.0.2-297.305.302.3 in Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 (OES 2) Linux, and OES 11 Linux Gold and SP1, does not make the intended SSL_free and SSL_shutdown calls for the close of a TCP connection, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (service crash) by establishing many TCP connections to port 8009.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3707 resides within the HTTPSTK service component of Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 and OES 11 Linux systems, specifically affecting the novell-nrm package versions prior to 2.0.2-297.305.302.3. This flaw manifests in the improper handling of SSL/TLS connection termination processes, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against target systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts the service's ability to correctly manage the cleanup of SSL resources during TCP connection closure, which is a fundamental aspect of secure network communication protocols.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the HTTPSTK service failing to execute the necessary SSL_free and SSL_shutdown function calls when closing TCP connections on port 8009. This omission creates a resource leak condition where SSL context structures remain allocated in memory even after connections are terminated. When attackers establish multiple simultaneous TCP connections to the vulnerable port, each connection consumes SSL resources that are not properly released back to the system. This progressive accumulation of unreleased SSL resources leads to memory exhaustion and ultimately causes the service to crash, resulting in complete denial of service for legitimate users attempting to access the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern that can be executed with relatively minimal resources from the attacker's perspective. The vulnerability affects systems running Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 and OES 11 Linux distributions, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on these platforms for critical infrastructure services. Network administrators and security teams face the challenge of monitoring for unusual connection patterns and implementing proactive mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation. The attack vector is straightforward and does not require authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker with network access to the target system's port 8009.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-404, which categorizes improper resource cleanup or release, and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure programming practices related to resource management within SSL/TLS implementations. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate patch management procedures to upgrade to the patched version 2.0.2-297.305.302.3 or later, which properly implements the SSL_free and SSL_shutdown calls during connection termination. Additionally, network-level mitigations such as connection rate limiting and monitoring for unusual connection spikes on port 8009 can provide temporary protection while patches are deployed. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for patterns consistent with this specific attack methodology and establish baseline connection behavior to quickly identify potential exploitation attempts.