CVE-2002-1773 in ICQ
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ICQ 2.6x for MacOS X 10.0 through 10.1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1773 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within ICQ 2.6x software running on MacOS X versions 10.0 through 10.1.2. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's handling of network requests, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the software's memory management to execute arbitrary code or trigger system crashes. The vulnerability specifically affects the client-side implementation of the ICQ messaging protocol on Apple's operating system, where the software fails to properly bounds-check incoming data before processing it. According to CWE-121, this represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can accommodate, leading to memory corruption and potential privilege escalation. The attack vector involves sending a specially crafted long request to the vulnerable ICQ client, which then processes this malformed input without proper sanitization, causing the application to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the ICQ application to crash or behave unpredictably, but more concerning is the potential for attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the running application. This represents a significant security risk in environments where users might receive messages from untrusted sources, as the vulnerability can be triggered simply by opening a maliciously crafted message or connection attempt. The vulnerability affects the core messaging functionality of the ICQ client, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems through social engineering or automated exploitation campaigns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving buffer overflow exploitation and privilege escalation, with potential lateral movement capabilities if the compromised system has additional network access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1773 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from the vendor, as the original ICQ client versions affected by this vulnerability are now obsolete and no longer supported. Users should disable or uninstall the vulnerable ICQ client software until proper security patches can be applied, though in this specific case, the software versions affected are so outdated that complete removal of the application becomes the recommended approach. Network administrators should implement strict firewall rules to prevent unauthorized access to ports commonly used by ICQ clients, particularly those associated with the ICQ protocol and associated services. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and proper memory management in software development, with security practitioners emphasizing the need for defensive programming practices such as bounds checking and stack canaries. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against vulnerable systems. Given the age of this vulnerability and the operating systems affected, the most effective mitigation involves complete removal of the vulnerable software from all systems and ensuring that users migrate to modern, supported messaging platforms that incorporate proper security controls. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of how inadequate security testing and memory management in legacy software can create persistent risks that remain exploitable for years after initial discovery.