CVE-2005-0813 in Initial Redirect Squid Proxy Plug-in
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Initial Redirect (ir) Squid Proxy Plug-In 0.1 and 0.2 may allow attackers to cause a denial of service and execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0813 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Initial Redirect ir Squid Proxy Plug-In version 0.1 and 0.2. This issue resides in the squid proxy server software ecosystem, specifically affecting the plug-in component responsible for handling initial redirect functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the proxy plug-in's code structure, creating an exploitable condition where malicious input can exceed allocated buffer boundaries. Such buffer overflows typically occur when programs fail to properly check input lengths before copying data into fixed-size memory buffers, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers for malicious purposes.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability presents significant operational risks to affected systems. Attackers can potentially trigger denial of service conditions by causing the proxy server to crash or become unresponsive through carefully crafted input sequences that overwrite critical memory segments. Beyond mere service disruption, the vulnerability's design allows for arbitrary code execution, meaning malicious actors could gain unauthorized control over the affected proxy server. This capability stems from the buffer overflow's ability to overwrite return addresses and execution pointers within the program's memory space, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code payloads. The vulnerability's impact extends across all systems utilizing the affected Squid proxy plug-in versions, potentially compromising entire network infrastructures that depend on proxy services for traffic management and security filtering.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, affecting both network availability and security posture. Organizations relying on squid proxy servers for content filtering, caching, and network traffic management face potential exposure to complete system compromise when this vulnerability is exploited. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, which suggests that the vulnerability could be triggered through various input channels including HTTP requests, proxy configuration parameters, or network traffic patterns that the Initial Redirect plug-in processes. This lack of specific vector information indicates a broad attack surface and underscores the critical need for immediate remediation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create exploitable memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically focusing on command and control through execution of malicious code on compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0813 require immediate action to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. The primary recommended approach involves upgrading to patched versions of the Squid proxy server software, specifically ensuring that the Initial Redirect plug-in is updated to versions that properly implement input validation and memory management controls. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected proxy servers to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include disabling the vulnerable plug-in module when not actively required, implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential instances of similar buffer overflow conditions within the organization's proxy infrastructure. Regular security monitoring and patch management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future software deployments. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of updated configurations to ensure that proxy functionality remains intact while eliminating the security risk presented by this buffer overflow vulnerability.