CVE-2007-3436 in MSN Messenger
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft MSN Messenger 4.7 on Windows XP allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via a flood of SIP INVITE requests to the port specified for voice conversation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
Microsoft MSN Messenger 4.7 for Windows XP contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack through excessive SIP INVITE requests targeting the voice conversation port. This vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks and represents a significant security flaw in the application's handling of Session Initiation Protocol messages. The flaw specifically affects the voice communication functionality of MSN Messenger, where the application fails to properly validate or rate-limit incoming SIP INVITE requests, leading to uncontrolled resource consumption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SIP message processing component of MSN Messenger. When the application receives a flood of SIP INVITE requests, it does not implement proper rate limiting or connection throttling mechanisms to prevent excessive resource allocation. Each INVITE request triggers internal processing that consumes CPU cycles, memory allocation, and network resources, ultimately leading to system instability and service unavailability. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes unchecked resource consumption as a fundamental weakness in software design and implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render MSN Messenger unusable for legitimate users while simultaneously consuming system resources that may affect overall system performance. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending numerous malformed or excessive INVITE requests to the designated voice conversation port, causing the application to consume increasing amounts of memory and processing power. The vulnerability particularly affects Windows XP systems where MSN Messenger 4.7 is installed, as this version lacks proper defensive mechanisms against such resource exhaustion attacks. This weakness creates an environment where legitimate users cannot establish voice conversations while the system becomes overwhelmed with processing requests.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper rate limiting and connection management within the SIP processing layer of MSN Messenger. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules to restrict access to the voice conversation ports and establish connection limits to prevent overwhelming the application with excessive requests. The recommended approach includes deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block abnormal traffic patterns indicative of SIP flood attacks. Additionally, Microsoft should have implemented proper resource management controls within the application to prevent unbounded resource allocation during SIP message processing, which would align with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of MSN Messenger or alternative communication platforms that have addressed these resource management deficiencies.