CVE-2005-0966 in Gaim
Summary
by MITRE
The IRC protocol plugin in Gaim 1.2.0, and possibly earlier versions, allows (1) remote attackers to inject arbitrary Gaim markup via irc_msg_kick, irc_msg_mode, irc_msg_part, irc_msg_quit, (2) remote attackers to inject arbitrary Pango markup and pop up empty dialog boxes via irc_msg_invite, or (3) malicious IRC servers to cause a denial of service (application crash) by injecting certain Pango markup into irc_msg_badmode, irc_msg_banned, irc_msg_unknown, irc_msg_nochan functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0966 represents a critical security flaw in the IRC protocol plugin of Gaim 1.2.0 and potentially earlier versions, demonstrating a classic case of input validation failure that enables multiple attack vectors. This vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of incoming IRC protocol messages, particularly those related to channel operations, user invitations, and server responses. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the application's handling of specific IRC message types through crafted markup injections that bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests in three distinct attack scenarios that collectively demonstrate the severity of improper input processing within instant messaging applications. The first vector involves remote attackers injecting arbitrary Gaim markup through functions handling kick, mode, part, and quit messages, while the second vector targets invite messages with malicious Pango markup that can trigger unexpected dialog box behavior. The third vector represents a denial of service condition where malicious IRC servers can crash the application by injecting specific Pango markup into error response functions. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-113, which addresses improper neutralization of input during web application development, and more specifically to CWE-79, which covers cross-site scripting attacks through improper input handling. The attack patterns align with ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1499.004 for network denial of service, as the vulnerability enables both arbitrary code execution through markup injection and application crash conditions. The technical implementation involves the application's failure to properly sanitize user input from IRC protocol messages before rendering them in the user interface, creating opportunities for markup injection that can execute within the application's context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple markup injection to encompass full application compromise through denial of service and potential arbitrary code execution. When attackers inject malicious Pango markup through the irc_msg_invite function, they can trigger unexpected dialog box behavior that may lead to user confusion or manipulation of the application interface. The more severe impact occurs through the irc_msg_badmode, irc_msg_banned, irc_msg_unknown, and irc_msg_nochan functions where crafted Pango markup can cause application crashes, effectively enabling a denial of service attack against legitimate users. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative communication environments where users rely on instant messaging applications for critical business operations, as the application crash conditions can disrupt communication workflows. The exploitability of this vulnerability increases significantly when considering that IRC servers are often untrusted network endpoints that users may connect to without proper security verification. The lack of proper input sanitization creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by both external attackers and malicious insiders within IRC networks. Organizations using affected versions of Gaim face potential risks including service disruption, data exposure through application crashes, and possible escalation to full system compromise if the application's memory management is improperly handled during markup processing. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that instant messaging applications often run with elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive user data and network resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0966 require immediate patching of affected Gaim versions to address the input sanitization deficiencies in the IRC protocol plugin. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to IRC servers and consider deploying proxy solutions that can filter and sanitize IRC protocol messages before they reach end-user applications. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all IRC protocol message types, particularly those involving user-generated content or server responses. Security measures should enforce proper markup escaping for all rendered content, ensuring that Pango markup and Gaim-specific markup are properly neutralized before display. Network administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual IRC message patterns or known malicious markup sequences that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in all network-facing applications and the necessity of comprehensive security testing for protocol implementations. Organizations should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code and ensure that instant messaging applications are regularly updated with security patches. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of connecting to untrusted IRC servers and the importance of maintaining updated software versions can significantly reduce exploitation success rates. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the sanitization mechanisms do not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while effectively addressing all three identified attack vectors.