CVE-2007-1037 in News File Grabber
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in News File Grabber 4.1.0.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .nzb file with a long subject field. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1037 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting News File Grabber version 4.1.0.1 and earlier installations. This vulnerability resides within the handling of .nzb files, which are commonly used in newsgroup file distribution systems to provide metadata about articles and files. The flaw specifically manifests when processing the subject field within these files, where an attacker can craft a malicious .nzb file containing an excessively long subject string that exceeds the allocated buffer space on the stack. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a fixed-length stack buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution attacks without requiring any authentication or local access to the affected system. An attacker can simply distribute a malicious .nzb file through newsgroups or other distribution channels, and when a victim's News File Grabber application processes this file, the overflow occurs during parsing of the subject field. The buffer overflow can overwrite the stack frame's return address, allowing an attacker to redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the buffer or to existing code within the application. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized code execution, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful crafting of the .nzb file to ensure the subject field exceeds the buffer capacity while maintaining proper file structure to avoid detection by basic validation routines. The attack vector is particularly concerning because .nzb files are commonly shared in newsgroup environments where users expect to download legitimate content without security concerns. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper bounds checking and input validation in network-based applications, particularly those handling user-provided data from untrusted sources. The flaw also highlights the risks associated with legacy software systems that may not have undergone proper security testing or code reviews. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, file validation controls, and regular software updates to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability affects versions that were likely released well before modern security practices became standard in software development lifecycle processes.