CVE-2017-15664 in Sync Breeze Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
In Flexense Sync Breeze Enterprise v10.1.16, the Control Protocol suffers from a denial of service vulnerability. The attack vector is a crafted SERVER_GET_INFO packet sent to control port 9121.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15664 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Flexense Sync Breeze Enterprise version 10.16.16, specifically affecting the control protocol implementation. This issue manifests through a crafted SERVER_GET_INFO packet that can be transmitted to the designated control port 9121, potentially disrupting the normal operation of the synchronization service. The flaw resides in the protocol handling mechanism where insufficient input validation and error management procedures fail to properly process malformed or specially constructed packets. Such vulnerabilities typically fall under the category of CWE-400, which encompasses issues related to resource exhaustion and improper handling of input data that can lead to service disruption or complete system unavailability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the packet parsing logic of the control protocol stack. When the system receives a specially crafted SERVER_GET_INFO packet, the parsing routine fails to adequately validate the packet structure or content, leading to unexpected behavior that can cause the service to crash or become unresponsive. This type of vulnerability represents a classic example of improper input validation where the system does not properly sanitize or verify incoming data before processing it. The attack requires minimal sophistication as the malicious packet can be constructed using standard network tools, making it accessible to threat actors with basic networking knowledge. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the security triad, as it can be leveraged to deny legitimate users access to the synchronization services provided by Sync Breeze Enterprise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15664 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity and data synchronization workflows within organizations relying on this enterprise-grade synchronization solution. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the control service to become unresponsive, forcing administrators to manually restart the service or potentially reboot the entire system to restore functionality. This disruption can cascade into broader operational issues, particularly in environments where multiple systems depend on synchronized data transfers or where the service is critical to business operations. The vulnerability's placement within the control protocol layer means that even if the primary data synchronization functions remain operational, the management and monitoring capabilities of the system become compromised, creating a scenario where administrators lose visibility into system status and cannot effectively manage the synchronization processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patch application from the vendor to address the specific input validation flaws in the control protocol implementation. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to restrict access to the control port 9121, limiting exposure to only trusted administrative networks. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify and alert on suspicious packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, and organizations should consider implementing defensive measures such as rate limiting and connection tracking to prevent exploitation. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while the vulnerability is properly addressed. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their enterprise synchronization solutions to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their infrastructure.