CVE-2006-0992 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Novell GroupWise Messenger before 2.0 Public Beta 2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long Accept-Language value without a comma or semicolon. NOTE: due to a typo, the original ZDI advisory accidentally referenced CVE-2006-0092. This is the correct identifier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0992 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within Novell GroupWise Messenger software version 2.0 Public Beta 1 and earlier releases. This security weakness specifically manifests when the application processes incoming network requests containing malformed Accept-Language header values that lack proper comma or semicolon delimiters. The flaw falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow category, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue that violates security principles outlined in the CWE taxonomy and represents a significant concern for networked applications processing user-supplied data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted network traffic that manipulates the Accept-Language HTTP header field in the messenger application's communication protocol. When the vulnerable GroupWise Messenger server receives a request containing an overly long Accept-Language value without required delimiters, the application's parsing routine fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite return addresses, saved registers, and other critical stack data structures, potentially enabling remote code execution with the privileges of the affected service account. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-0992 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential complete system compromise and denial of service conditions. An attacker successfully exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the GroupWise Messenger server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or establishment of persistent backdoors within the corporate network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Novell GroupWise Messenger for email and instant messaging services, particularly those with internet-facing servers or systems that process untrusted network input. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would enable arbitrary code execution on the target system. The flaw also aligns with T1190 network block tunneling techniques as attackers might use this vulnerability to establish covert communication channels.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Novell patch released for version 2.0 Public Beta 2 and later, implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to GroupWise Messenger services, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The recommended approach follows standard vulnerability management practices outlined in NIST SP 800-40 guidelines, emphasizing the importance of timely patch deployment and network segmentation. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened at all application layers, with proper bounds checking and sanitization of HTTP header values. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts using network traffic analysis tools and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to detect any emerging attack patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and buffer management in preventing remote code execution attacks, particularly in enterprise messaging systems that handle large volumes of external network traffic.