CVE-2005-2804 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the registry parsing code in GroupWise 6.5.3, and possibly earlier version, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a large TCP/IP port in the Windows registry key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2804 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the registry parsing functionality of Novell GroupWise 6.5.3 and potentially earlier versions. This issue resides in the application's handling of Windows registry keys during network communication processes, specifically when processing TCP/IP port information. The vulnerability manifests when the application encounters a malformed or excessively large TCP/IP port value within the Windows registry, leading to improper memory allocation and subsequent application instability. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that occurs when an application performs arithmetic operations on integer values without proper bounds checking.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves remote attackers who can manipulate the Windows registry to include an abnormally large TCP/IP port value, typically in the range of maximum integer limits or beyond. When GroupWise attempts to parse this registry entry during normal operation, the integer overflow causes the application to allocate insufficient memory or attempt to process data beyond the allocated buffer space. This results in memory corruption that ultimately leads to application crash or complete denial of service. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where GroupWise services are exposed to external traffic.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2804 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the availability of critical email and collaboration services within enterprise environments. GroupWise serves as a foundational communication platform for many organizations, and the denial of service condition can effectively shut down email services, calendar synchronization, and other groupware functionalities. This vulnerability can be particularly devastating in mission-critical environments where continuous availability is essential for business operations. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices in the registry parsing code, which is a fundamental security principle that should prevent such conditions from occurring. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and represents a classic example of how insufficient bounds checking can lead to complete application compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from Novell, as the vendor would have released a security update addressing the integer overflow condition in registry parsing. Organizations should also implement registry access controls to limit unauthorized modifications to GroupWise-related registry entries, particularly those containing network configuration parameters. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help reduce exposure by limiting external access to GroupWise services and preventing potential attackers from manipulating registry values through network-based attacks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual registry modifications and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper integer handling in security-critical applications and serves as a reminder that even seemingly benign configuration parameters can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent. System administrators should also consider implementing registry auditing and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications that may be susceptible to similar integer overflow conditions.