CVE-2016-3962 in IMS-LANTIME
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the NTP time-server interface on Meinberg IMS-LANTIME M3000, IMS-LANTIME M1000, IMS-LANTIME M500, LANTIME M900, LANTIME M600, LANTIME M400, LANTIME M300, LANTIME M200, LANTIME M100, SyncFire 1100, and LCES devices with firmware before 6.20.004 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, modify data, or cause a denial of service via a crafted parameter in a POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3962 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting Meinberg IMS-LANTIME and LANTIME series time synchronization devices. This flaw exists within the network time protocol NTP time-server interface implementation across multiple device models including M3000, M1000, M500, M900, M600, M400, M300, M200, M100, SyncFire 1100, and LCES units. The vulnerability specifically manifests when these devices process crafted parameters within HTTP POST requests, creating a pathway for remote exploitation that can compromise the integrity and availability of critical time synchronization infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the NTP interface handling mechanism. When a remote attacker submits a maliciously crafted parameter in a POST request, the device fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, data corruption, or system instability. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to be written beyond the allocated buffer space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass serious security implications including sensitive information disclosure, data modification, and complete system compromise. Given that these devices are deployed in critical infrastructure environments where precise time synchronization is essential for network operations, a successful exploitation could disrupt time-sensitive applications, compromise audit trails, and potentially enable further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects firmware versions prior to 6.20.004, indicating that organizations running older firmware versions face significant risk without immediate patching.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to version 6.20.004 or later, network segmentation to limit access to these time servers, and monitoring for suspicious POST request patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1499.004 for endpoint disruption, making it particularly concerning for defenders who must protect against both information disclosure and availability attacks. Additionally, implementing network access controls and intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts before they succeed. The affected devices represent critical time synchronization infrastructure components that typically operate in environments where network reliability and security are paramount, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in industrial control systems and enterprise networks where precise timekeeping is essential for proper system operation and security auditing.