CVE-2015-1430 in Xymon
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in xymon 4.3.17-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1430 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered in xymon version 4.3.17-1, a widely used network monitoring and alerting system. This issue arises from improper input validation within the application's handling of network data, specifically affecting the way the software processes incoming data packets that exceed predetermined buffer limits. The flaw exists in the network protocol parsing functionality that manages communication between monitoring agents and the central xymon server, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the system processes untrusted data from multiple sources.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the xymon application receives network data that exceeds the allocated memory buffer size during protocol processing. This condition allows attackers to craft malicious network packets that deliberately overflow the buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, and other critical program state information. The vulnerability is classified as a classic stack-based buffer overflow according to CWE-121, which occurs when insufficient bounds checking permits data to be written beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw is particularly concerning because xymon typically runs with elevated privileges in network monitoring environments, providing attackers with potential paths to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network infrastructure security since xymon systems are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where they monitor critical network services and applications. Attackers exploiting this buffer overflow could potentially gain unauthorized access to monitoring systems, disrupt network monitoring capabilities, or escalate privileges to execute malicious code with the same privileges as the xymon service. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise as network monitoring data could be corrupted or manipulated, leading to false security alerts or missed detection of actual security incidents. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The attack surface is particularly broad given that xymon systems often serve as central points of network visibility, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking persistent access to network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1430 should prioritize immediate patching of affected xymon installations to the latest available versions that address the buffer overflow vulnerability. Network administrators should implement proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms at network boundaries to filter out malformed packets before they reach the xymon system. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of monitoring systems, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and establishing regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar issues in other network monitoring tools. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation practices in network monitoring systems, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-144 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for information security management. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level firewalls or network access control lists to restrict access to xymon services and reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters.