CVE-2005-4693 in Gaim-Encryption
Summary
by MITRE
Gaim-Encryption 2.38-1 on Debian Linux allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted message from an ICQ buddy, possibly involving the GE_received_key function in keys.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4693 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Gaim-Encryption version 2.38-1 running on Debian Linux systems. This security issue specifically targets the instant messaging client's handling of ICQ protocol communications, where malicious actors can exploit a crafted message to crash the application. The vulnerability resides within the GE_received_key function located in the keys.c source file, indicating a direct correlation between the cryptographic key handling mechanism and the exploitable condition.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the encryption subsystem of the Gaim-Encryption plugin. When an ICQ buddy sends a specially crafted message containing malformed cryptographic data, the GE_received_key function fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an exploitable condition where the application's memory management becomes compromised, leading to an application crash and subsequent denial of service for legitimate users. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level within the ICQ communication stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal messaging interactions without requiring authentication or privileged access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on instant messaging systems for communication. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can trigger the denial of service condition from any location without physical access to the target system. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can disrupt business communications, compromise user productivity, and potentially serve as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, specifically targeting the system's ability to maintain continuous operation and service delivery. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability can be exploited by adversaries with minimal technical expertise, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such attacks could be used to disrupt operations or as part of broader attack campaigns.
The remediation approach for CVE-2005-4693 requires immediate patching of the Gaim-Encryption plugin to version 2.39 or later, which includes proper input validation and memory management fixes. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to monitor and filter suspicious ICQ traffic patterns, particularly focusing on unexpected key exchange messages. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of vulnerable plugins or applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and may also relate to CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1499.004 for network denial of service, demonstrating how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant operational impacts. Regular security assessments should include verification of plugin versions and proper input validation mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other components of the messaging infrastructure.