CVE-2005-0533 in Norton AntiVirus
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Trend Micro AntiVirus Library VSAPI before 7.510, as used in multiple Trend Micro products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted ARJ file with long header file names that modify pointers within a structure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0533 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the Trend Micro AntiVirus Library VSAPI component, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.510. This security weakness resides in the processing logic for ARJ archive files, where the software fails to properly validate the length of header file names during decompression operations. The flaw manifests when maliciously crafted ARJ files contain excessively long header file names that overwrite adjacent memory structures, leading to pointer corruption within the application's heap memory management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed ARJ archive file that contains header entries with file names exceeding the allocated buffer size. When the VSAPI library processes these malformed headers, it performs insufficient bounds checking on the file name length, allowing an attacker to overwrite critical memory locations including function pointers or structure members. This pointer modification enables arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the vulnerable application process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the attack can manipulate memory layout in ways that are particularly difficult to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple Trend Micro products that utilize the VSAPI library, creating a widespread attack surface that includes various antivirus and security solutions. Attackers can leverage this flaw remotely by delivering malicious ARJ files through email attachments, web downloads, or other delivery mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently encounter untrusted file formats. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it can be exploited without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, and the exploitation can occur in both client-side and server-side applications that process ARJ archives.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0533 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Trend Micro products to version 7.510 or later, which includes proper bounds checking for header file name lengths. Network administrators should implement strict file format filtering policies that block ARJ archives at network boundaries, particularly when these files are received from untrusted sources. Additionally, deploying application whitelisting solutions and implementing memory protection mechanisms such as data execution prevention can help reduce the effectiveness of exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous file processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts, given the specific nature of the heap corruption that occurs during ARJ file parsing operations.