CVE-2019-18904 in Linux Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
A Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerability in rmt of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS, SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-LTSS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15-SP1, SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15, SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15-SP1, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP 15; openSUSE Leap 15.1 allows remote attackers to cause DoS against rmt by requesting migrations. This issue affects: SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.26.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-LTSS rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.26.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15-SP1 rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.9.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.26.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15-SP1 rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.9.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.26.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP 15 rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-3.26.1. openSUSE Leap 15.1 rmt-server versions prior to 2.5.2-lp151.2.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18904 represents a critical uncontrolled resource consumption flaw within the rmt (remote management tool) component of multiple SUSE Linux Enterprise and openSUSE distributions. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered remotely through specific migration requests, fundamentally undermining system availability and operational continuity. The affected rmt-server implementations demonstrate a failure to properly manage resource allocation during migration operations, creating a potential attack vector where malicious actors can exhaust system resources and render services unavailable to legitimate users.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-400, which categorizes uncontrolled resource consumption as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to consume excessive system resources such as memory, CPU cycles, or network bandwidth. The flaw specifically affects the resource management mechanisms within the rmt-server daemon, where incoming migration requests are processed without adequate validation or resource limiting controls. The operational impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire infrastructure deployments that rely on these management tools for system maintenance and migration workflows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly routine administrative operations can become attack vectors when proper resource bounds are not enforced. Migration requests in the rmt system are processed without sufficient checks on resource consumption patterns, allowing attackers to submit multiple concurrent requests or malformed migration parameters that cause the server to allocate excessive memory or processing cycles. This behavior creates a classic resource exhaustion scenario where legitimate system operations become impossible due to the depletion of available computational resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects organizations running critical enterprise infrastructure who depend on SUSE's remote management capabilities for maintaining their Linux environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that rmt-server typically operates in production environments where availability is paramount, and the DoS condition can persist until system restart or manual intervention. The vulnerability impacts multiple product lines including high performance computing environments, server applications modules, and SAP-specific deployments, indicating a widespread exposure across various enterprise use cases.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating affected rmt-server components to versions 2.5.2 or later, which contain patches addressing the resource consumption limits. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of rmt-server endpoints to trusted administrative networks only. Monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual resource consumption patterns or excessive migration requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for network denial of service, emphasizing the need for proper resource management and access control measures. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms and resource quotas for migration operations to prevent exploitation while maintaining legitimate administrative functionality.