CVE-2005-2103 in Gaim
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the AIM and ICQ module in Gaim before 1.5.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an away message with a large number of AIM substitution strings, such as %t or %n.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2103 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the AIM and ICQ module of the Gaim instant messaging client software. This issue affects versions prior to 1.5.0 and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms when processing away messages containing excessive substitution strings. The flaw specifically manifests when the application encounters AIM substitution strings such as %t or %n in away messages, which are commonly used for formatting purposes within the AIM protocol. These substitution strings are designed to dynamically insert information such as timestamps or nicknames into away messages, but the lack of proper bounds checking allows malicious actors to exploit this functionality for harmful purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the memory management practices of the Gaim client's protocol handling code. When processing away messages, the application fails to properly validate the length and structure of substitution strings, leading to a situation where a buffer allocated for storing formatted message content can be overwritten with excessive data. This buffer overflow condition occurs because the software does not enforce maximum limits on the number or length of substitution strings that can be processed within a single away message. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the protocol parsing functionality that handles AIM and ICQ communication protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal messaging operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution. Attackers can craft specially formatted away messages containing a large number of substitution strings to overflow the allocated buffer space, causing the application to crash or potentially allowing arbitrary code execution. This represents a significant security risk for users who may unknowingly receive such malicious messages from contacts or untrusted sources. The vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of the messaging client, as users may experience application instability, unexpected crashes, or in severe cases, complete system compromise. The remote nature of this attack means that malicious actors do not require local access to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for widespread deployment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the Gaim client to version 1.5.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper input validation and buffer management. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual away message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that can lead to memory corruption. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the execution phase of the attack lifecycle and could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation or persistent access. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation of this vulnerability across their network infrastructure, while maintaining regular security updates to prevent similar issues in other communication protocols and applications.