CVE-2002-0416 in Mailserver
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in SH39 MailServer 1.21 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service, and possibly execute arbitrary code, via a long command to the SMTP port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0416 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within SH39 MailServer version 1.21 and earlier implementations. This security weakness resides in the server's handling of SMTP commands, specifically when processing overly long command inputs through the standard SMTP port. The buffer overflow occurs due to insufficient input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the mail server's command processing routines, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. When a remote attacker sends a malformed SMTP command containing an excessive number of characters, the server's buffer allocation fails to properly validate the input length, causing memory corruption that can result in arbitrary code execution or complete service disruption. This flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically targeting the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution on affected systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized control over the mail server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or use as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on legacy mail server implementations, particularly those that have not updated their systems beyond the vulnerable SH39 MailServer versions, creating persistent security risks for email infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected SH39 MailServer installations to version 1.22 or later, which includes proper input validation and buffer management. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of SMTP ports to trusted networks only, while monitoring for suspicious SMTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect and alert on unusually long SMTP command sequences that could indicate buffer overflow attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 technique of Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage application-level vulnerabilities to execute malicious code, making it a critical target for both preventive and detective security controls.