CVE-2007-6409 in Instant Messenger
Summary
by MITRE
The gg protocol handler in Gadu-Gadu, when this product is installed but not running, does not properly handle the skin attribute, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via unspecified network traffic.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6409 affects the Gadu-Gadu messaging protocol handler implementation within the Gadu-Gadu client software ecosystem. This security flaw manifests specifically when the Gadu-Gadu application is installed on a system but not actively running in the foreground. The protocol handler component responsible for processing gg protocol requests contains a critical design flaw in its handling of the skin attribute parameter. This attribute is typically used to define visual themes or interface elements within the messaging application, but the implementation fails to properly validate or sanitize this parameter during network traffic processing.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the domain of improper input validation and resource management flaws. When remote attackers craft malicious network traffic containing specially formatted skin attribute values, the protocol handler fails to properly process these inputs, leading to excessive resource consumption patterns. This resource exhaustion occurs through memory allocation issues or process handling anomalies that cause the system to consume increasingly large amounts of computational resources. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, specifically targeting the gg protocol handler component that manages external communication requests. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in resource management where the system fails to properly control resource consumption, potentially leading to denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system stability concerns. When exploited, the denial of service condition can cause the Gadu-Gadu protocol handler to consume excessive memory or processing power, potentially leading to system slowdowns, application crashes, or complete system resource exhaustion. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where Gadu-Gadu is installed but not actively running, making it a latent threat that can be triggered through network-based attacks. The attack vector requires only that the vulnerable protocol handler be present on the target system, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring local system access or elevated privileges. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service attacks and represents a resource exhaustion attack pattern that can be classified under the broader category of system resource compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment from the software vendor, which would address the improper handling of the skin attribute parameter. System administrators should also implement network-level filtering to restrict incoming gg protocol traffic to trusted sources, particularly when the application is not actively in use. Additionally, monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns on systems with Gadu-Gadu installed can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource management in protocol handler implementations, emphasizing that even seemingly benign attributes like skin parameters can create significant security risks when not properly handled. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation policies that limit the exposure of systems running legacy messaging protocols that may contain unpatched vulnerabilities.