CVE-2004-1272 in Filter
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the save_embedded_address function in filter.c for elm/bolthole filter 2.6.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted email message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1272 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the elm email client's filtering mechanism, specifically in the save_embedded_address function located in filter.c. This issue affects version 2.6.1 of the elm/bolthole filter component, which is widely used for email message filtering and processing. The buffer overflow occurs when the application processes email messages containing specially crafted embedded addresses that exceed the allocated buffer space, creating a potential execution path for malicious code injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and boundary checking within the save_embedded_address function. When processing email headers or message content that contains embedded addresses, the function fails to adequately validate the length of input data before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the application level where email filtering occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through routine email processing without requiring special privileges or authentication.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to email server security and user systems. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious email messages containing oversized embedded addresses that trigger the buffer overflow during normal message processing. The successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected email processing service. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to email servers or to compromise user systems through malicious email delivery.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to be written beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. From an attack framework perspective, this flaw would map to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1059 for command and control through execution of malicious code. The attack surface is particularly broad given that email filtering systems are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where they process untrusted email content from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1272 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions of the elm email client and bolthole filter components. Organizations should implement email content filtering and validation measures that can detect and block malformed email messages before they reach the vulnerable filtering components. Network-level defenses including email gateway filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing privilege separation for email processing services and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potentially affected components within email infrastructure that might present similar attack vectors.