CVE-2005-3433 in ICQ
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Mirabilis ICQ 2003a allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code by convincing a user to enter long strings into the First Name and Last Name fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3433 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Mirabilis ICQ 2003a instant messaging client software. This security weakness manifests specifically in the handling of user input within the First Name and Last Name fields of user profiles, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates under the fundamental principle that the application fails to properly validate or limit the length of input data entered by users, allowing attackers to overflow the allocated buffer space and potentially overwrite critical memory regions.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the ICQ client's user interface components. When users enter excessively long strings into the First Name or Last Name fields, the application's memory management fails to enforce proper bounds checking, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to inject and execute malicious code. This type of vulnerability is classified as a classic stack-based buffer overflow, where the overflow occurs in the stack memory region, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate the program's execution flow and gain unauthorized control over the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including privilege escalation, data theft, and system persistence. An attacker could craft specially formatted input strings that, when processed by the vulnerable ICQ client, would trigger the buffer overflow condition and subsequently execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. This presents a significant risk to organizations and individuals who rely on ICQ for communication, as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics where attackers convince victims to accept contact requests or engage in normal conversation patterns that ultimately lead to code execution.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is user-assisted, meaning that successful exploitation requires some form of user interaction or deception to initiate the malicious payload. This characteristic places the vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework under the technique of social engineering, specifically targeting the initial access phase of an attack lifecycle. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, though the primary manifestation in this case is stack-based. Organizations utilizing ICQ 2003a should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while also ensuring that all users are educated about the risks of accepting contacts from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3433 should include immediate software updates from the vendor, as well as network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious input patterns. Security professionals should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted code and ensure that legacy applications like ICQ 2003a are either updated or removed from production environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, particularly in client applications that process user-provided data. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent buffer overflow exploitation attempts, as well as maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential system compromise. The remediation process should also include thorough vulnerability assessment of other legacy applications that may exhibit similar buffer overflow characteristics, as the presence of one such vulnerability often indicates potential for additional security weaknesses within the same codebase.