CVE-2005-0158 in bidwatcher
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in bidwatcher before 1.3.17 allows remote malicious web servers from eBay, or a spoofed eBay server, to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via certain responses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0158 represents a critical format string flaw in bidwatcher software versions prior to 1.3.17. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-134 which specifically addresses the use of format strings without proper validation. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data within format string functions, creating a path for remote code execution and denial of service attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web server responses, making it accessible to attackers who control malicious or spoofed eBay servers that interact with the vulnerable bidwatcher client.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within bidwatcher's response processing mechanism. When the application receives responses from eBay servers, it fails to sanitize or properly validate the format string arguments before passing them to functions like printf or sprintf. This allows an attacker to inject malicious format specifiers that can manipulate the program's execution flow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically affects how the software handles certain response formats, particularly those that might contain crafted format string sequences that can be exploited to overwrite memory locations or redirect program execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential complete system compromise. Remote attackers who control malicious or spoofed eBay servers can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the bidwatcher process, which typically runs with user-level permissions but could potentially be escalated. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector where legitimate eBay users could unknowingly trigger the exploit when their bidwatcher client processes responses from compromised servers. This makes the attack surface particularly broad as it affects all users who rely on bidwatcher for eBay monitoring without proper updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0158 require immediate patch application to bidwatcher versions 1.3.17 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for proper format string validation. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to eBay services and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious format string patterns in network traffic. The fix typically involves implementing proper input sanitization and validation before any format string operations, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as format specifiers. Additionally, administrators should enforce regular security updates and consider implementing application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized code. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1499.004 for network denial of service, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat and the importance of comprehensive security measures.