CVE-2007-1350 in NetMail
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in webadmin.exe in Novell NetMail 3.5.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long username during HTTP Basic authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1350 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the webadmin.exe component of Novell NetMail version 3.5.2. This security weakness specifically manifests during HTTP Basic authentication processes when the system encounters an excessively long username parameter. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly constrain the length of user-supplied data before processing it within the application's memory stack. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer located on the stack than the buffer can accommodate, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This remote code execution vulnerability allows threat actors to gain unauthorized access to the NetMail server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized administrative access. The attack vector requires only a specially crafted HTTP request containing an overly long username string, making exploitation relatively straightforward and accessible to attackers with basic network connectivity. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Novell NetMail for email services, as it directly undermines the security of the web-based administrative interface that is commonly exposed to external network traffic.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an exploitation of a web application vulnerability that allows for remote code execution. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as the attack may leverage HTTP protocols for delivery. Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of Novell NetMail face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential system compromise, as the buffer overflow can be leveraged to gain elevated privileges and establish persistent access to the target environment. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1350 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations must also implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web administration interface and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication attempts containing unusually long username strings. Additional protective measures include implementing strong access controls, regular security assessments of web applications, and maintaining up-to-date vulnerability management processes. The remediation process should also involve thorough testing of patches to ensure compatibility with existing network infrastructure and business applications, while maintaining proper backup procedures to facilitate rapid recovery in case of deployment issues. Security monitoring should specifically target anomalous authentication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.