CVE-2005-4456 in MailEnable Professional
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in MailEnable Professional 1.71 and Enterprise 1.1 before patch ME-10009 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via long (1) LIST, (2) LSUB, and (3) UID FETCH commands. NOTE: it is possible that these are alternate vectors for the issue described in CVE-2005-4402.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4456 represents a critical security flaw affecting MailEnable Professional 1.71 and Enterprise 1.1 versions prior to patch ME-10009. This issue manifests as multiple buffer overflows that occur during the processing of specific IMAP commands, specifically LIST, LSUB, and UID FETCH operations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer within the mail server software, exploiting improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied data before processing. These buffer overflows create exploitable conditions where malicious actors can manipulate the application's memory structures through carefully crafted command sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of IMAP protocol commands that are processed by the MailEnable server. When the server receives specially crafted LIST, LSUB, or UID FETCH commands containing excessively long parameter strings, the application's internal buffer handling mechanisms fail to properly validate the input length. This results in memory corruption that can lead to application crashes or potentially allow remote code execution. The vulnerability operates under CWE-121, which classifies buffer overflow conditions as a fundamental weakness in software design. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the mail server's IMAP service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the buffer overflows can potentially be leveraged for remote code execution. This capability transforms a simple service disruption into a potential compromise of the entire mail server infrastructure. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on MailEnable for their email services, creating significant risk for businesses handling sensitive communications. The issue represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture and demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4456 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch ME-10009, which addresses the specific buffer overflow conditions in the affected MailEnable versions. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict access to IMAP ports to trusted sources only, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious IMAP command patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary IMAP commands or implementing rate limiting to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210, which covers exploitation of remote services, and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the CWE framework. Organizations must also conduct thorough security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mail server implementations and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to address future security issues effectively.