CVE-2007-3437 in Instant Messenger
Summary
by MITRE
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) 6.1.32.1 on Windows XP allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed header value in a SIP INVITE message, a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-3350.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2017
AOL Instant Messenger version 6.1.32.1 running on Windows XP systems presents a significant denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers through manipulation of SIP INVITE message headers. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of malformed header values during the Session Initiation Protocol communication process, which is fundamental to instant messaging and VoIP services. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming SIP header data before processing it, leading to application instability and potential system crashes. Unlike CVE-2007-3350 which addresses a different aspect of AIM's SIP implementation, this vulnerability focuses exclusively on the header value parsing mechanism that occurs during the initial session establishment phase of instant messaging communications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious SIP INVITE message containing malformed header values that exceed the application's expected parameter limits or contain unexpected character sequences. When AIM processes this malformed message, the application's SIP parser fails to handle the unexpected data gracefully, causing memory corruption that results in an application crash. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically aligns with CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, when considering the memory management patterns in the affected application. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices where the application does not implement proper bounds checking or data sanitization routines for SIP header processing, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can craft malicious network traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application disruption as it can be leveraged to create persistent denial of service conditions against targeted users or systems. Attackers can repeatedly send malformed SIP INVITE messages to cause AIM to crash continuously, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing their instant messaging services. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AIM might be used for business communications, as it can be used to disrupt productivity and communication channels. The attack vector requires only network access to the target system and does not require authentication or privileged access, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which describes network denial of service attacks, and represents a specific implementation weakness that can be exploited as part of broader reconnaissance and attack planning phases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate application patching and network-level protections. The most effective solution involves applying the vendor-provided security update that addresses the SIP header parsing flaw in AIM 6.1.32.1, which typically includes enhanced input validation and proper error handling routines for SIP message processing. Network administrators should implement SIP message filtering rules that can detect and block malformed INVITE messages at the perimeter firewall or intrusion prevention systems, preventing the malicious traffic from reaching vulnerable AIM installations. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of such attacks by restricting which systems can receive and process SIP traffic. Organizations should also consider deploying application whitelisting solutions that prevent unauthorized versions of AIM from executing on systems, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other communication applications that might be running on the network infrastructure.