CVE-2004-2714 in WindowMaker
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Window Maker 0.80.2 and earlier allows attackers to perform unknown actions via format string specifiers in a font specification in WMGLOBAL, probably a format string vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2714 resides within Window Maker 0.80.2 and earlier versions, representing a critical security flaw that affects the window management system used in Unix-like operating environments. This vulnerability manifests through unspecified actions that can be executed by attackers leveraging format string specifiers within font specifications processed by WMGLOBAL, which is a core component of the Window Maker window manager. The flaw demonstrates the dangerous potential of improper input validation and string formatting operations within graphical user interface applications.
This represents a classic format string vulnerability that falls under the CWE-134 classification, specifically addressing the improper use of format specifiers in functions like printf and related string formatting routines. The vulnerability occurs when the WMGLOBAL component processes font specifications without adequate sanitization of user-provided input, allowing attackers to inject format specifiers that can trigger unintended behavior. When these malformed format strings are processed, they can cause the application to read from arbitrary memory locations, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or even arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation details and memory layout.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to potentially extract sensitive information from the application's memory space or manipulate the execution flow of the window manager. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted font specifications that, when processed by the vulnerable WMGLOBAL component, would cause the application to behave in unpredictable ways. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where Window Maker is used as the primary window manager, creating potential attack vectors for privilege escalation or information gathering activities that could compromise the broader system security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Window Maker installations to version 0.80.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly sanitize format string inputs. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to prevent malformed font specifications from being processed by the window manager, while monitoring for suspicious activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, as the vulnerability could potentially be exploited remotely if the window manager is accessible over network connections. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify that no other applications within the system architecture are susceptible to similar format string vulnerabilities, as this class of weakness remains prevalent in many legacy applications and can provide attackers with persistent access vectors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and information gathering techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address both immediate patching requirements and long-term application hardening practices.