CVE-2007-5018 in Mercury 32
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in IMAPD in Mercury/32 4.52 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a long argument in a SEARCH ON command. NOTE: this issue might overlap with CVE-2004-1211.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5018 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the IMAPD component of Mercury/32 version 4.52. This security weakness specifically affects the mail server's IMAP protocol implementation and creates a significant attack surface for remote authenticated users who can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The flaw manifests when processing a SEARCH ON command with an excessively long argument, allowing attackers to overwrite stack memory contents and potentially gain full system control.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the IMAPD service's handling of SEARCH commands. When an authenticated user submits a SEARCH ON command containing a malformed argument that exceeds the allocated buffer size, the application fails to perform adequate bounds checking. This allows the excess data to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack, potentially corrupting the return address or other critical execution context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking permits memory access beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, directly enabling arbitrary code execution through stack manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations relying on Mercury/32 mail servers, as it requires only authenticated access to exploit. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the IMAP service account. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or use as a foothold for further network infiltration. The vulnerability's potential overlap with CVE-2004-1211 suggests similar underlying issues in the software's input handling mechanisms, indicating a broader pattern of insecure coding practices within the Mercury/32 application.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through protocol manipulation. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specially formatted SEARCH ON command with an oversized argument that triggers the buffer overflow during parsing. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor patches, disabling unnecessary IMAP functionality, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected mail server. Additionally, monitoring for unusual SEARCH command patterns and implementing proper input validation at network boundaries can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in server-side applications, particularly those handling user-provided data through protocol interfaces.