CVE-2005-3182 in MailSecurity
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the HTTP management interface for GFI MailSecurity 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via long headers such as (1) Host and (2) Accept in HTTP requests. NOTE: the vendor suggests that this issues is "in an underlying Microsoft technology" which, if true, could mean that the overflow affects other products as well.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3182 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the HTTP management interface of GFI MailSecurity version 8.1. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessively long header values in HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically targets two commonly used HTTP headers: Host and Accept, which are fundamental components of web communication protocols. When remote attackers submit malformed HTTP requests containing oversized values in these headers, the application fails to validate the input length, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow vulnerability pattern where the application writes data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory structures and executable code segments. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions that occur when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities through buffer overflow attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate GFI MailSecurity product, as indicated by the vendor's acknowledgment that the issue originates from underlying Microsoft technology components. This suggests that similar buffer overflow conditions could potentially affect other products utilizing the same Microsoft infrastructure or libraries, creating a broader security concern across multiple applications and systems. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where management interfaces are exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability's presence in the HTTP management interface indicates that it could be exploited to gain administrative privileges within the email security system, potentially allowing attackers to modify security policies, access sensitive email content, or even take complete control of the mail server. The fact that this vulnerability affects core HTTP protocol handling components means that it could be leveraged in various attack scenarios including web application attacks, man-in-the-middle operations, or as part of broader exploitation chains targeting email infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and configuration hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor-provided security updates that address the buffer overflow conditions in the affected components. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to the GFI MailSecurity management interface, ensuring that only trusted administrative workstations can reach these ports. Input validation controls should be strengthened at network boundaries through the implementation of web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block malformed HTTP headers. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential instances of similar vulnerabilities in underlying Microsoft technologies, as the vendor's statement suggests this issue may not be isolated to GFI MailSecurity alone. Additionally, implementing monitoring and logging of HTTP traffic patterns can help detect anomalous header values that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting thorough security reviews of third-party applications, particularly those that integrate with core operating system components or utilize underlying Microsoft technologies that may contain similar flaws.