CVE-2006-0761 in BlackBerry Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in BlackBerry Attachment Service in Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry Enterprise Server 2.2 and 4.0 before SP3 Hotfix 4 for IBM Lotus Domino, 3.6 before SP7 and 5.0 before SP3 Hotfix 3 for Microsoft Exchangem, and 4.0 for Novell GroupWise before SP3 Hotfix 1 might allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server via a crafted Microsoft Word document that is opened on a wireless device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0761 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the BlackBerry Attachment Service component of Research in Motion's BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. This security weakness affects multiple server platforms including IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange, and Novell GroupWise environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms when processing Microsoft Word documents that are subsequently opened on BlackBerry wireless devices. The flaw exists in versions 2.2 and 4.0 of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server before specific service pack updates, creating a persistent security risk across various enterprise email infrastructures. The buffer overflow occurs during the document parsing process when the system attempts to handle oversized or malformed data structures within the Word document format.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a user-assisted remote attack model where an attacker must first deliver a specially crafted Microsoft Word document to a target user. When the recipient opens this malicious document on their BlackBerry device, the Attachment Service component fails to properly validate the document structure, leading to a buffer overflow condition. This overflow allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution on the affected server. The vulnerability specifically targets the document processing pipeline within the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, leveraging the inherent trust relationship between the server and wireless devices. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices that violate fundamental security principles of input validation and memory management. According to CWE classification, this represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability categorized under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-0761 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass complete server compromise and potential data breach scenarios. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to enterprise email servers, allowing them to read, modify, or delete sensitive corporate data. The vulnerability affects critical infrastructure components that serve as gateways between enterprise networks and mobile devices, making it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting corporate environments. Organizations utilizing affected BlackBerry server versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to email communications, calendar data, and contact information. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations cannot simply rely on network segmentation or firewall rules to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability can be triggered through legitimate email processing workflows. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious payloads within the server environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided service pack updates and hotfixes for each affected platform. Organizations should prioritize updating their BlackBerry Enterprise Server installations to versions that address the specific buffer overflow conditions in the Attachment Service component. Network administrators should implement additional protective measures including email content filtering, document validation policies, and monitoring for suspicious attachment handling activities. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing of updated systems to ensure that the patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing enterprise applications. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Organizations with legacy systems that cannot be immediately updated should consider implementing additional network segmentation controls and access restrictions around the BlackBerry Enterprise Server components. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and address similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications and infrastructure components.