CVE-2002-2182 in MSN666
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Seunghyun Seo s MSN666 MSN Sniffer 1.0 and 1.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long MSN packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2182 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the MSN666 MSN Sniffer version 1.0 and 1.0.1 developed by Seunghyun Seo. This security weakness resides within network protocol analysis software designed to capture and monitor MSN Messenger communications, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of MSN Messenger during the early 2000s. The flaw manifests when the application processes incoming MSN packets that exceed the allocated buffer size, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system control.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the MSN packet processing module of the sniffer application. When the software receives an MSN packet containing excessive data beyond the predefined buffer limits, the application fails to properly handle the overflow condition, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution data. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to write past allocated memory regions. The flaw specifically demonstrates characteristics of stack-based buffer overflow as described in the CWE taxonomy, where the overflow occurs in a stack-allocated buffer during packet processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. Given that MSN Sniffer applications typically run with elevated privileges to capture network traffic effectively, successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise. Attackers could potentially inject malicious code that would execute within the context of the sniffer process, enabling them to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware components. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where the sniffer application is deployed in network monitoring roles, as these installations often operate continuously and maintain elevated system permissions.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised application. The attack surface is significant given that MSN Messenger was widely used for business and personal communications, making the sniffer tool a valuable target for adversaries seeking to monitor communications. Organizations implementing network monitoring solutions using this vulnerable software face substantial risk, particularly in environments where such tools are deployed on servers or workstations with network access to MSN Messenger traffic. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need not have physical access to the target system, significantly expanding the potential attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2182 should prioritize immediate software updates from the vendor, though given the age of this vulnerability, official patches may no longer be available. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running vulnerable sniffer applications, employ network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider disabling the sniffer functionality entirely if not essential for operations. Additionally, implementing input validation controls at network boundaries and deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed MSN packets can provide defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of how network protocol analysis tools, while essential for legitimate monitoring purposes, can become attack vectors when not properly secured against buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also consider migrating to modern packet analysis tools that incorporate robust memory safety features and regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting their network monitoring infrastructure.