CVE-2014-4044 in OpenAFS
Summary
by MITRE
OpenAFS 1.6.8 does not properly clear the fields in the host structure, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (uninitialized memory access and crash) via unspecified vectors related to TMAY requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4044 affects OpenAFS version 1.6.8 and represents a critical memory management flaw within the distributed file system implementation. This issue manifests in the improper clearing of fields within the host structure, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit uninitialized memory access patterns to trigger system crashes and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability specifically relates to TMAY requests, which are part of the OpenAFS authentication and communication protocols that facilitate secure file access across distributed networks.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate memory initialization practices within the host structure handling code. When processing TMAY requests, the system fails to properly reset or clear specific memory fields that contain critical host information. This oversight creates a condition where stale or uninitialized data remains in memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior when the system attempts to access these memory regions. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through network-based attacks without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on OpenAFS for distributed file services, as it can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt file sharing services and potentially impact business continuity. The denial of service condition occurs through uninitialized memory access patterns that cause the affected system processes to crash, requiring manual intervention for recovery. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect the availability of critical file resources across the entire distributed network infrastructure that depends on OpenAFS for storage and access control.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which addresses the use of uninitialized variables in software implementations, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to address this vulnerability, as the flaw exists in the core memory management components of the OpenAFS system. Network segmentation and access controls can provide temporary mitigation while patches are deployed, though the most effective solution involves upgrading to patched versions of OpenAFS that properly initialize host structure fields. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual patterns of TMAY request processing and system crash events that may indicate exploitation attempts.