CVE-2004-0555 in Queue
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in (1) queue.c and (2) queued.c in queue before 1.30.1 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0555 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting the queue software before version 1.30.1. This issue manifests in two distinct source files: queue.c and queued.c, both of which handle queue processing operations. The buffer overflow occurs when the software processes incoming data without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the queue processing functions. When the software receives data through network connections or file operations, it fails to verify that the incoming data fits within allocated buffer boundaries. This lack of proper boundary checking enables attackers to craft malicious input that exceeds the buffer capacity, causing adjacent memory to be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. The overflow can potentially overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information, allowing remote code execution to occur with the privileges of the affected process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further system compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain remote access to systems, and T1059, which covers the execution of malicious code through compromised system processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0555 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 1.30.1 or later, as this represents the most effective solution to address the buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable queue services to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious network traffic patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts, as well as implementing input validation controls at network boundaries to filter out malformed data. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected queue software and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future.