CVE-2004-1289 in pcal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in (1) the getline function in pcalutil.c and (2) the get_holiday function in readfile.c for pcal 4.7.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted calendar file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1289 represents a critical security flaw affecting pcal version 4.7.1, a calendar utility program. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct buffer overflow conditions that occur during the processing of calendar files, creating potential pathways for remote code execution. The flaw exists in the software's handling of user-provided input through calendar data files, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where users might receive or process calendar files from untrusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves buffer overflows in two specific functions within the pcal software suite. The first overflow occurs in the getline function located within the pcalutil.c source file, while the second vulnerability exists in the get_holiday function found in readfile.c. Both functions fail to properly validate or limit the length of input data when parsing calendar files, allowing attackers to craft malicious calendar data that exceeds the allocated buffer space. When these functions process specially constructed calendar files, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1289 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely through the delivery of malicious calendar files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where calendar data is shared or automatically processed. The buffer overflow conditions create opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution through stack corruption, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through compromised applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to craft calendar files containing carefully constructed data that triggers the buffer overflow conditions in the targeted functions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because calendar files are commonly shared in business environments, educational institutions, and personal networks, making the attack surface quite broad. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to system resources, data theft, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of input validation failure in legacy software, highlighting the importance of proper bounds checking and memory management practices. Organizations using pcal version 4.7.1 or similar calendar utilities should implement immediate mitigations including software updates, input sanitization measures, and network segmentation to prevent exploitation of this remote code execution vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing proper security controls around file processing functions that handle untrusted input data.