CVE-2005-0737 in Yahoo
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Yahoo! Messenger allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the offline mode.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0737 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Yahoo! Messenger software that was discovered in 2005. This security weakness specifically affects the offline messaging functionality of the popular instant messaging client, creating a pathway for remote attackers to gain unauthorized execution privileges on affected systems. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the application's handling of offline message data structures, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring local system access or user interaction beyond initiating the vulnerable messaging process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper bounds checking during the processing of offline messages received by the Yahoo! Messenger client. When the application attempts to store or process oversized message data within predetermined memory buffers, it fails to validate the input size against allocated buffer capacity, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged by malicious actors. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The buffer overflow occurs in the client-side application logic where offline message handling routines do not properly sanitize incoming data, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within compromised networks. Once successfully exploited, the remote code execution capability enables threat actors to install backdoors, steal sensitive information, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access to victim machines. The vulnerability's accessibility through the offline messaging feature makes it particularly concerning because users often receive messages from unknown or untrusted sources, and the attack vector does not require active user engagement during the exploitation phase. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK tactic TA0001 for initial access, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for unauthorized system compromise through passive message reception.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0737 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Yahoo! Messenger developers, as well as network-level protective measures. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts, and establish robust endpoint protection measures including application whitelisting policies. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in client-side applications, particularly those handling external data inputs. Security practitioners should also consider implementing network monitoring protocols to detect unusual offline message processing activities and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures for rapid mitigation of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of accepting messages from untrusted sources remains crucial in reducing the attack surface for this and similar vulnerabilities.