CVE-2005-0804 in Standard
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in MailEnable 1.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via format string specifiers in the mailto field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0804 represents a critical format string flaw within MailEnable version 1.8 that exposes the system to remote denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the mailto field processing mechanism within the mail server software, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject format string specifiers that can trigger application crashes. The flaw exists in the software's handling of user-supplied data during email address processing, creating an avenue for exploitation that can be leveraged from remote locations without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-134, which describes the weakness of using user-supplied data in format string functions without proper validation or sanitization. When MailEnable processes email addresses containing malicious format specifiers within the mailto field, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before passing them to standard format string functions such as printf or sprintf. This oversight allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code or cause the application to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service condition that disrupts legitimate email services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system stability risks and availability concerns for organizations relying on MailEnable for their email infrastructure. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash the mail server, leading to extended downtime and service degradation that affects business operations and user productivity. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network proximity, making it particularly dangerous as it can be targeted from anywhere on the internet.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to mail server functionality, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, emphasizing the importance of protecting email infrastructure from such attacks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation mechanisms and adopting secure coding practices that prevent format string vulnerabilities should be prioritized in all future development cycles to prevent similar issues from occurring in the system's architecture.