CVE-2007-6302 in NetMail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in avirus.exe in Novell NetMail 3.5.2 before Messaging Architects M+NetMail 3.52f (aka 3.5.2F) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified ASCII integers used as memory allocation arguments, aka "ZDI-CAN-162."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6302 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the avirus.exe component of Novell NetMail 3.5.2, affecting systems prior to Messaging Architects M+NetMail 3.52f version. This flaw resides within the email scanning functionality that processes incoming messages for virus detection, creating a significant attack surface for remote threat actors. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application encounters unspecified ASCII integers that serve as memory allocation parameters during virus scanning operations, allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation sizes through crafted input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through heap memory corruption that enables arbitrary code execution without requiring authentication or local system access. Attackers can remotely submit specially crafted email messages containing malformed ASCII integer values that cause the avirus.exe process to allocate insufficient memory buffers, subsequently leading to buffer overflows in heap memory regions. This memory corruption pattern aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient space is allocated for data, and specifically relates to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds writes to heap memory. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation can enable remote code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it allows complete system compromise through remote code execution. The flaw affects email scanning functionality across the entire NetMail messaging infrastructure, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to email servers, exfiltrate sensitive communications, or establish persistent backdoors within network environments. Network administrators face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited without any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where email servers process thousands of messages daily. The vulnerability's classification as remote code execution through heap overflow places it in the high-severity category, as it can be exploited by attackers from outside the network perimeter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6302 require immediate patch application from Messaging Architects to upgrade to M+NetMail 3.52f or later versions that address the heap overflow conditions in avirus.exe. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate email servers from critical infrastructure and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious email traffic patterns. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary email scanning features or implementing email content filtering at network boundaries to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar heap-based buffer overflow conditions in legacy email systems, as this class of vulnerability often indicates broader memory management issues within software applications. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing email infrastructure configurations.