CVE-2005-4828 in Kolab Groupware Server
Summary
by MITRE
Kolab Server 2.0.0 and 2.0.1 does not properly handle when a large email is sent with a "." in the wrong place, which causes kolabfilter to add another ".", which might break clear-text signatures and attachments. NOTE: it is not clear whether this issue crosses privilege boundaries, so this might not be a vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4828 affects Kolab Server versions 2.0.0 and 2.0.1, specifically within the kolabfilter component that processes email messages. This issue represents a potential data corruption problem that occurs during the handling of specific email formats containing periods in inappropriate positions. The flaw manifests when processing large email messages where the kolabfilter utility incorrectly appends additional periods to the message content, potentially causing disruptions to the email's integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling within the kolabfilter processing pipeline. When an email contains a period character "." in what the system considers an invalid position, the filter mechanism attempts to correct this by adding another period, creating a double period sequence. This behavior can have cascading effects on email processing, particularly when dealing with clear-text signatures and attachments that rely on specific formatting and structure. The vulnerability operates at the message processing level, where the filter's logic fails to properly distinguish between legitimate period characters and those that require correction, leading to unintended modifications of the message content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple message corruption, potentially affecting the integrity of email communications within Kolab Server environments. When clear-text signatures are affected, recipients may experience issues with signature verification processes, while attachments could become corrupted or improperly formatted. This type of vulnerability can lead to significant operational disruptions in email services, particularly in environments where automated processing and signature validation are critical components of the communication infrastructure. The potential for cross-privilege boundary issues remains unclear, which suggests the vulnerability may be limited in scope but could still impact system reliability and data integrity.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The issue demonstrates poor input sanitization and handling practices that could be exploited to disrupt email services or potentially create conditions for more serious attacks. Organizations using Kolab Server should prioritize updating to patched versions to address this vulnerability, as the potential for message corruption could lead to operational failures and compromise the reliability of email communications. The uncertainty regarding privilege boundary crossing suggests this may be more of a service disruption issue rather than a direct security vulnerability, but the impact on email integrity remains significant enough to warrant attention and remediation.