CVE-2004-1233 in Instant Messenger
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Gadu-Gadu allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (disk consumption) via a user packet to the DCC file transfer capability with an invalid file length.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1233 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Gadu-Gadu instant messaging protocol implementation that specifically affects the Direct Client-to-Client DCC file transfer functionality. This issue resides in the protocol's handling of file length parameters during file transfer operations, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize integer values received from remote peers. The flaw manifests when a malicious attacker sends a specially crafted user packet containing an invalid file length value that exceeds the maximum representable value for the integer data type used in the implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the file length field within the DCC file transfer protocol packets. When the Gadu-Gadu client processes a packet with an oversized file length value, the integer overflow causes the system to allocate an excessive amount of disk space or memory resources, leading to rapid consumption of available storage capacity. This particular implementation flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate boundary checking mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for secure software development. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a common weakness in software security implementations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service condition that can severely impact system availability and performance. The remote attacker can initiate a sustained attack that consumes disk space on the target system, potentially leading to complete system unavailability when storage resources are exhausted. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed from any location with network access to the vulnerable service, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the system may become unstable or crash entirely when storage limits are reached, creating additional recovery challenges for system administrators.
The security implications of CVE-2004-1233 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and T1566.001 for Phishing. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to resource exhaustion attacks that compromise system integrity. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected software versions, implementation of proper integer overflow protection mechanisms, and network-level filtering to restrict DCC file transfer capabilities where possible. System administrators should also consider implementing disk space monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unusual consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and conducting thorough security testing of network protocols, particularly those handling user-supplied data in file transfer scenarios.