CVE-2003-1464 in Phone
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Siemens 45 series mobile phones allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (disconnect and unavailable inbox) via a Short Message Service (SMS) message with a long image name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2016
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1464 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered in Siemens 45 series mobile phones, specifically affecting the Short Message Service implementation. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the SMS processing mechanism of these telecommunications devices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's memory management. The flaw manifests when the device receives an SMS message containing an excessively long image name parameter, which exceeds the allocated buffer space in the phone's memory allocation structure. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where the system fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied data before copying it into fixed-length memory buffers. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates entirely over the air without requiring any physical access or specialized equipment, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can disrupt critical communication channels and potentially compromise the device's overall functionality. When exploited, the buffer overflow causes the mobile phone's messaging system to crash, resulting in immediate disconnection from the network and rendering the inbox inaccessible to legitimate users. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the mobile phone's security architecture, where the device fails to implement proper input sanitization mechanisms before processing external communications. This issue directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, particularly concerning input validation and error handling in mobile device applications. The attack scenario involves an attacker sending a specially crafted SMS message containing an image name exceeding the maximum buffer capacity, which triggers the overflow condition upon processing. This type of vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, though in this case the exploitation occurs through SMS protocols rather than traditional command execution. The security implications are significant as mobile phones serve as primary communication devices for both personal and professional use, making such vulnerabilities particularly dangerous when they can be triggered remotely. The Siemens 45 series devices were particularly susceptible due to their implementation of legacy SMS processing protocols that did not adequately account for boundary conditions in user input validation. The vulnerability essentially creates a condition where the device's memory management system becomes corrupted, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability. This type of flaw is particularly challenging to detect and remediate as it often requires firmware updates or complete device replacement. The flaw's impact on network infrastructure is substantial, as multiple devices experiencing buffer overflows can collectively contribute to network congestion and service degradation. Mobile network operators faced significant challenges in addressing this vulnerability, as it required coordinated updates across numerous device models and firmware versions. The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing robust memory safety mechanisms in embedded systems and mobile device architectures, particularly those handling external communications. Security researchers noted that similar vulnerabilities were prevalent in early mobile phone implementations due to insufficient security testing and the rapid development cycles of mobile telecommunications equipment. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of mobile device firmware, particularly in areas related to input validation and memory management. The lack of proper bounds checking in the SMS processing subsystem represents a fundamental security oversight that allowed for remote exploitation without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. The operational consequences extend to both individual users experiencing service disruption and network operators dealing with increased support requests and potential service degradation. Mobile phone manufacturers and network operators needed to implement immediate mitigation strategies, including firmware updates and temporary network-based filtering of suspicious SMS messages. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of how early mobile telecommunications systems lacked the security considerations that are now standard practice in modern embedded systems and mobile device development. This particular issue demonstrates the evolution of mobile security threats from simple service disruptions to more sophisticated remote exploitation techniques that can compromise device functionality and user privacy. The remediation efforts required extensive coordination between Siemens, mobile network operators, and security researchers to develop and deploy appropriate patches and mitigations. The vulnerability's persistence in early mobile device implementations underscores the critical importance of security-by-design principles in telecommunications equipment development and the necessity of rigorous testing protocols before product deployment.