CVE-2004-2125 in RealSecure
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in blackd.exe for BlackICE PC Protection 3.6 and other versions before 3.6.ccb, with application protection off, allows local users to gain system privileges by modifying the .INI file to contain a long packetLog.fileprefix value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2125 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in blackd.exe, the core daemon process of BlackICE PC Protection software. This issue affects versions prior to 3.6.ccb and specifically manifests when application protection is disabled, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector for local attackers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the application's configuration handling mechanism, where the .INI file parsing process fails to properly sanitize the packetLog.fileprefix parameter. When an attacker crafts a maliciously long value for this parameter and places it in the configuration file, the software's buffer management fails to handle the excessive input length, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw operates through a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where the overly long packetLog.fileprefix value overflows the allocated buffer space, potentially overwriting return addresses and control data within the program's execution context. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the exploitation of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities, and T1059, covering the use of command-line interfaces to execute malicious code. The attack requires local system access and administrative privileges to modify the .INI configuration file, making it a local privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a remote one, though the implications for system compromise remain severe.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access for attackers. Once elevated privileges are obtained, malicious actors can modify system files, install rootkits, establish backdoors, and access sensitive data repositories that were previously protected by standard user permissions. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it requires minimal prerequisites beyond local access and the ability to modify configuration files, making it accessible to attackers who have already gained a foothold on the system through other means. Organizations running affected versions of BlackICE PC Protection face significant risk, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to undermine the very security protections that the software is designed to provide.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2125 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 3.6.ccb or later, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized modification of the .INI configuration files, particularly those governing the packetLog.fileprefix parameter. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface by limiting local access to vulnerable systems. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file modification patterns in system configuration directories, as well as anomaly detection for processes attempting to write excessively long strings to memory buffers. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits of system configurations can help prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and buffer management in security software, as even defensive tools can contain exploitable flaws that undermine their protective capabilities.