Description
racoon/isakmp_frag.c in ipsec-tools before 0.7.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via crafted fragmented packets without a payload, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 5.0 | ipsec-tools | 1:0.7.1-1.3+lenny2 | DSA-1804-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | ipsec-tools | 1:0.6.6-3.1etch3 | DSA-1804-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | ipsec-tools | 0.6.5-13.el5_3.1 | RHSA-2009:1036 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- IPsec-Tools < 0.7.2 (racoon frag-isakmp) - Multiple Remote Denial of Service Vulnerabilities (PoC) EDB-8669 · dos · May 13, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2009:1036 Red Hat Security Advisory: ipsec-tools security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1804-1 ipsec-tools - denial of service Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- ipsectools-isakmpfrag-dos(50412) vdb-entry
- USN-785-1 vendor-advisory
- http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?group_id=74601&release_id=677611
- 35159 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-4394 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090429 ipsec-tools 0.7.2 mailing-list
- 34765 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2009:1036 vendor-advisory
- 35113 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9624 vdb-entry signature
- 35404 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090504 Re: ipsec-tools 0.7.2 mailing-list
- 35212 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=497990
- APPLE-SA-2010-12-16-1 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200905-03 vendor-advisory
- 35685 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-4298 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2009:012 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4298
- ADV-2009-3184 vdb-entry
- http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10705
- 35153 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-4291 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2009-11-09-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1804 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:112 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3937