CVE-2004-2429 in Sendmail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based and heap-based buffer overflows in EnderUNIX spamGuard before 1.7-BETA allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the (1) qmail_parseline and (2) sendmail_parseline functions in parser.c, (3) loadconfig and (4) removespaces functions in loadconfig.c, and possibly (5) unspecified functions in functions.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2429 represents a critical security flaw in EnderUNIX spamGuard version 1.6 and earlier, which exposes multiple buffer overflow conditions that could enable remote code execution. This vulnerability affects the email filtering system that operates within the qmail and sendmail mail transfer agent environments, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise systems running vulnerable versions of the spam filtering software. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the core parsing and configuration loading functions of the spamGuard utility.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through several distinct code paths that all involve buffer overflows in the parsing and configuration handling modules. The primary attack vectors target the qmail_parseline and sendmail_parseline functions within parser.c, which process incoming email data without adequate bounds checking, allowing attackers to overflow stack buffers with malicious input. Additionally, the loadconfig function in loadconfig.c and the removespaces function demonstrate similar vulnerabilities when processing configuration data, while unspecified functions in functions.c may also be susceptible to the same class of buffer overflow conditions. These vulnerabilities are categorized as both stack-based and heap-based buffer overflows according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, with CWE-121 representing the stack overflow condition and CWE-122 representing the heap overflow condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the spamGuard process. This presents a significant risk to email server security, particularly in environments where spamGuard operates with elevated privileges or where attackers can leverage the compromised system to gain further access to the broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems running qmail and sendmail implementations, making it particularly relevant in enterprise email environments where these mail transfer agents are commonly deployed. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the vulnerable parsing functions, and potentially T1190 for exploit for client execution.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any system running EnderUNIX spamGuard version 1.6 or earlier that processes email data through the affected parsing functions, particularly those systems that accept email from external sources without proper filtering. Organizations utilizing qmail or sendmail mail servers with spamGuard installed would be at risk, especially those that do not maintain current security patches or have not implemented proper input validation measures. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple functions within the spam filtering software, increasing the likelihood that an attacker could find a successful exploitation path regardless of which specific function is targeted. System administrators should implement immediate mitigation measures including upgrading to version 1.7-BETA or later, applying vendor patches, and implementing network-level restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to the spamGuard service. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in security-critical applications, as inadequate bounds checking in parsing functions can create persistent attack vectors that remain exploitable across multiple code paths.