CVE-2004-0425 in Sideminder Affiliate Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in SiteMinder Affiliate Agent 4.x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large SMPROFILE cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0425 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the SiteMinder Affiliate Agent version 4.x software. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of the SMPROFILE cookie parameter, which is commonly used for session management and user authentication within the SiteMinder framework. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes an excessively large SMPROFILE cookie value, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The heap-based nature of this buffer overflow indicates that the vulnerable code allocates memory on the heap and subsequently writes beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially redirect program execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a serious weakness in memory management and input validation processes. The affected SiteMinder Affiliate Agent 4.x implementation demonstrates poor input sanitization practices where the application fails to properly validate or limit the size of incoming cookie data before processing it within memory structures. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious SMPROFILE cookie values that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing the application to overwrite critical memory regions including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data. The remote exploitation capability of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require local system access or physical presence to carry out attacks, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing environments where the SiteMinder agent processes user requests. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets a publicly accessible application component that processes user-supplied input. The operational impact of successful exploitation includes complete system compromise, unauthorized access to protected resources, potential data breaches, and the ability to establish persistent backdoors within the affected environment. Organizations using SiteMinder Affiliate Agent 4.x are particularly vulnerable since the application typically operates in enterprise authentication environments where it handles sensitive user credentials and access control information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated through web-based attack vectors, making it attractive to both automated scanning tools and sophisticated attackers. The memory corruption resulting from this heap overflow can lead to application crashes or more sinisterly, allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the running application process. This particular vulnerability represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can lead to severe security consequences, especially when dealing with session management components that are integral to authentication systems. The affected environment typically includes web servers or application servers that utilize SiteMinder for access control, making it a critical target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise authentication infrastructure. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the SiteMinder Affiliate Agent to version 4.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and buffer size checks for cookie processing. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be implemented to monitor and filter suspicious cookie values, while input validation rules should be enforced at multiple layers of the application architecture to prevent malformed data from reaching vulnerable code paths. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper memory management in authentication systems, as these components are often primary targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise networks. Organizations should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other authentication components and web applications that may be similarly susceptible to heap-based buffer overflow attacks.