CVE-2004-1005 in Midnight Commander
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Midnight Commander (mc) 4.5.55 and earlier allow remote attackers to have an unknown impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1005 affects Midnight Commander version 4.5.55 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the file manager to remote exploitation. This issue manifests through multiple buffer overflow conditions within the application's codebase, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to compromise systems running vulnerable versions. The buffer overflows occur during processing of specially crafted input data, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they affect a widely used file management utility that operates across multiple operating systems including unix-like environments where Midnight Commander is commonly deployed.
The technical implementation of these buffer overflows stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Midnight Commander application. When processing certain file attributes or network data streams, the software fails to properly bounds-check array accesses, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability exists in multiple locations within the codebase where string operations and data parsing occur, making it challenging to fully enumerate all affected paths without detailed code analysis. These flaws align with common software security weaknesses documented in the CWE database under categories related to buffer overflows and improper input validation. The specific nature of the vulnerability suggests that it may be triggered through network-based operations or when processing files from untrusted sources, potentially through network filesystem protocols or remote directory listings.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2004-1005 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable complete system compromise. Attackers could leverage these buffer overflows to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running Midnight Commander, which might include administrative rights on the system. The remote exploitability aspect means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, making these vulnerabilities particularly dangerous in networked environments where the file manager might be used to access remote file systems or network shares. Organizations using older versions of Midnight Commander face significant risk exposure, especially in environments where the utility is frequently used to access network resources or when systems are not properly patched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1005 primarily involve immediate upgrading to patched versions of Midnight Commander, as no reliable workarounds exist for the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users might be accessing network resources through the file manager. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual network traffic patterns or attempts to access vulnerable versions of the software. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input sanitization and proper memory management practices in software development, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions until patches can be deployed, while also considering the broader implications of legacy software in modern security architectures.