CVE-2009-1892: DHCP host record fenceposting error
  • 30 May 2013
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CVE-2009-1892: DHCP host record fenceposting error

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Article Summary

Versions of ISC dhcpd from 3.0.3 and onward have a fenceposting error that causes it to exit if it observes a DHCP client that matches two host records - one by DHCP Client Identifier option, the other by hardware address.

CVE: 

CVE-2009-1892  

Posting date: 

07 Oct 2009

Program Impacted: 

DHCP

Versions affected: 

3.0.3 and higher

Severity: 

Minor

Exploitable: 

Remotely with "local knowledge"

Description:

Theoretically, an attacker can cause the DHCP server to exit (and perform a Denial Of Service) by crafting a DHCP message that contains a specific CHADDR (hardware address) and DHCP Client Identifier option contents to match existing host records. However, using combinations of 'uid' and 'hardware' matching host records is not common configuration - generally either 'hardware' or 'uid' are used exclusively, rather than in mixtures. Furthermore, for the attack to be practical, the attacker would need to know the contents of the DHCP server's configuration file before the attack, something that DHCP Server Administrators do not frequently share. Although one could search through trial and error for the existence of such records in the DHCP server, the attacker would have to try every combination of perceived Client Identifiers and MAC Addresses, or to search those spaces through brute force. At this point it is both more practical and less server-implementation or configuration specific to simply use known DHCP protocol limitations to effect a DOS; such as forcibly allocating all addresses on the network.

Workarounds:

Temporarily convert existing "host " records to use 'hardware' match criteria exclusively.

Active exploits:

None known at this time.

Solution:  

Upgrade to 3.1.3, 4.0.2b2, 4.1.1b2, or later.

Related Documents:

If you'd like more information on our Forum or product support please visit www.isc.org/support.

Do you still have questions?   Questions regarding this advisory should go to security-officer@isc.org

Note: ISC patches only currently supported versions. When possible we indicate EOL versions affected.

ISC Security Vulnerability Disclosure Policy:   Details of our current security advisory policy and practice can be found here: https://www.isc.org/security-vulnerability-disclosure-policy

This Knowledge Base article https://kb.isc.org/article/AA-00963 is the complete and official security advisory document.

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