CVE-2004-1414 in Instant Messenger
Summary
by MITRE
Gadu-Gadu 6.1 build 156 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application hang) via a message that contains many special strings that are converted to images.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1414 affects the Gadu-Gadu instant messaging client version 6.1 build 156, representing a classic denial of service weakness that exploits the application's handling of specially crafted message content. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign user input can be weaponized to disrupt service availability, particularly in communication applications where message processing is a core function. The flaw specifically manifests when the client receives a message containing multiple special strings that are automatically converted into image representations during display processing.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the client's image rendering subsystem which processes special strings within incoming messages and attempts to convert them into graphical elements. When an attacker crafts a message containing an excessive number of such special strings, the application's image processing routines become overwhelmed, leading to application hang conditions where the user interface becomes unresponsive. This occurs because the client does not implement proper input validation or resource limiting mechanisms for handling image conversion operations within message content, creating a scenario where the processing time and memory consumption grow exponentially with the number of special strings present.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of the Gadu-Gadu client, particularly in environments where message traffic is not properly filtered or where users might receive messages from untrusted sources. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple application unresponsiveness to potentially affecting user productivity and communication reliability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered remotely without requiring authentication or special privileges, making it accessible to any attacker who can send messages to targeted users. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage application-level weaknesses to disrupt services.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability can be classified under CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," specifically manifesting as excessive memory or CPU usage during message processing. The lack of input sanitization and resource management in the image conversion process creates an exploitable condition where the application's processing capabilities are exhausted through legitimate user interaction. This vulnerability also reflects poor defensive programming practices related to input validation and resource allocation that are commonly addressed through secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient bounds checking and resource limiting can create opportunities for attackers to consume system resources and cause application instability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and resource limiting within the message processing pipeline. The client application should establish maximum limits for the number of special strings that can be processed within a single message, implement timeouts for image conversion operations, and employ more robust error handling mechanisms that prevent resource exhaustion conditions. Additionally, network-level filtering could be implemented to block suspicious message patterns, though this approach provides only partial protection. The most effective long-term solution involves comprehensive code review and the implementation of defensive programming techniques that ensure resource usage remains bounded regardless of input characteristics. This vulnerability highlights the importance of considering resource consumption patterns during software design and the necessity of implementing proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms to prevent exploitation through crafted payloads.