CVE-2004-0356 in Slmail Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Supervisor Report Center in SL Mail Pro 2.0.9 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request with a long HTTP sub-version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0356 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the Supervisor Report Center component of SL Mail Pro version 2.0.9 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessively long HTTP sub-version strings in incoming HTTP requests. The flaw exists at the application layer where the software processes HTTP protocol elements without sufficient bounds checking, creating a exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the SL Mail Pro application receives an HTTP request containing an overly long HTTP sub-version field. The application's parsing routine does not enforce proper length constraints on this field, allowing an attacker to supply a maliciously crafted HTTP request that exceeds the allocated buffer space on the stack. This overflow condition corrupts adjacent memory locations and can overwrite critical program execution data including return addresses, effectively allowing an attacker to manipulate the program flow and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing SL Mail Pro versions 2.0.9 or earlier, as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication. Attackers can exploit this flaw from any network location to compromise systems running vulnerable versions, potentially leading to full system takeover, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core mail processing functionality and could result in significant service disruption, data loss, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the affected software operates.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This classification indicates that the flaw falls under the category of memory safety issues that have been historically prevalent in C/C++ applications due to lack of proper input validation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system, and potentially T1078 Valid Accounts if the compromised system has legitimate user accounts that can be leveraged for further access.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of SL Mail Pro to versions 2.1.0 or later where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to mail services, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP requests containing unusually long sub-version strings, and consider disabling unnecessary HTTP protocol features that may contribute to the attack surface. Additionally, regular security assessments should validate that all mail server components are updated and that proper input sanitization mechanisms are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other applications within the environment.