CVE-2005-1826 in Radia Client
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in HP Radia Notify Daemon 3.1.0.0 (formerly by Novadigm), and other versions including 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long file extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1826 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the HP Radia Notify Daemon software, formerly known as Novadigm Notify Daemon. This daemon serves as a network service responsible for managing and distributing software updates and notifications across enterprise environments. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software including 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x series, with the specific version 3.1.0.0 being explicitly mentioned in the CVE description. The flaw manifests when the daemon processes file extensions in network communications, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input can overflow allocated memory buffers. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through network-based attacks targeting the Notify Daemon service. When a remote attacker sends a specially crafted packet containing an excessively long file extension, the daemon fails to properly validate the input length before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. This buffer overflow condition can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures within the application's execution context. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows for remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it a severe threat to enterprise networks where such update management services are commonly deployed. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain remote access and execute arbitrary code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to entire network infrastructure managed by the Radia Notify Daemon. Enterprise environments that rely on this software for software distribution and patch management become particularly vulnerable, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to deploy malicious payloads across multiple systems simultaneously. The affected versions span several major releases, indicating a long-standing flaw that was not properly addressed in the software lifecycle. Organizations using these versions face significant risk of compromise, especially in environments where the daemon operates with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive network resources. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to systems, nor do they require local user accounts, making it particularly attractive for widespread network attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1826 should focus on immediate patching of affected software versions, as HP would have released updates to address the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the Notify Daemon service, limiting exposure to only trusted network segments. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious file extension patterns could help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous behavior associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in network services, as well as the critical need for regular security updates and vulnerability assessments. Given the age of the affected versions, organizations should also consider migrating to more modern software solutions that have better security practices and active support lifecycles, as legacy systems often contain unaddressed vulnerabilities that pose ongoing security risks to enterprise environments.