CVE-2005-0573 in Gaim
Summary
by MITRE
Gaim 1.1.3 on Windows systems allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (client crash) via a file transfer in which the filename contains "(" or ")" (parenthesis) characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0573 represents a classic buffer overflow condition affecting the Gaim instant messaging client version 1.1.3 running on Windows operating systems. This flaw specifically manifests during file transfer operations when the filename contains parenthesis characters, creating a scenario where the client application fails to properly handle the input validation. The issue stems from inadequate string parsing mechanisms within the file transfer handler component of the application, which does not adequately sanitize or validate filename inputs before processing them. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-120, representing generic buffer overflow scenarios where insufficient bounds checking occurs during string operations. The attack vector involves a remote adversary who can craft malicious filenames containing parentheses to trigger the vulnerable code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple client instability, as it represents a potential denial of service condition that can disrupt communication services for end users. When a victim receives a file transfer request containing a filename with parenthesis characters, the Gaim client crashes and terminates unexpectedly, forcing users to manually restart the application and potentially losing ongoing chat sessions. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of the instant messaging service, particularly in enterprise environments where continuous communication is critical. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can initiate a file transfer with maliciously crafted filenames. From an attack methodology perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through client-side exploitation, and T1059.007, representing script-based command execution through client-side applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of filename parsing logic within the file transfer module of Gaim. When the application encounters a filename containing parenthesis characters, the internal string handling routines fail to properly process these special characters, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application crash. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and lacks proper bounds checking mechanisms that should be implemented during string operations. Security researchers have identified that this issue stems from the application's failure to implement proper string sanitization before processing filenames, which is a fundamental security practice recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project. The vulnerability exists because the developers did not account for the potential impact of special characters in filenames, particularly those that might interfere with parsing operations or string manipulation functions. Organizations using Gaim 1.1.3 on Windows systems should implement immediate mitigation strategies including software updates, input validation enforcement, and network-level filtering to prevent exploitation. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of Gaim that properly validates and sanitizes filename inputs before processing, along with implementing network monitoring to detect and block suspicious file transfer attempts containing potentially malicious filename patterns. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in client-side applications, particularly those handling user-provided data through network protocols.