CVE-2008-0027 in Unified Callmanager
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Certificate Trust List (CTL) Provider service (CTLProvider.exe) in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) 4.2 before 4.2(3)SR3 and 4.3 before 4.3(1)SR1, and CallManager 4.0 and 4.1 before 4.1(3)SR5c, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code via a long request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0027 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the Certificate Trust List Provider service component of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager products. This flaw exists in specific versions of Cisco's unified communications software where the CTLProvider.exe service fails to properly validate input lengths when processing certificate trust list requests. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects multiple product versions including CUCM 4.2 before 4.2(3)SR3 and 4.3 before 4.3(1)SR1, as well as CallManager 4.0 and 4.1 before 4.1(3)SR5c, indicating a widespread exposure across several generations of Cisco's unified communications infrastructure. The root cause of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers send specially crafted requests containing excessive data to the CTLProvider service, which then attempts to process these requests without proper input validation. This failure to validate request length causes the heap memory allocation to be exceeded, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the affected system or trigger a denial of service condition. The nature of heap-based buffer overflows makes them particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to overwrite critical program structures, function pointers, or return addresses, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow. According to ATT&CK framework category T1203, this vulnerability aligns with the technique of "Exploitation for Client Execution" where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over the affected Cisco Unified Communications Manager systems. This represents a significant threat to enterprise communication infrastructure, as these systems typically handle sensitive business communications and may be integrated with critical business processes. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to target affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems may be exposed to external network traffic. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face potential risks including unauthorized access to communication channels, data interception, and complete system compromise that could disrupt business operations and potentially lead to regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0027 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to the affected Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager versions, specifically upgrading to the patched releases mentioned in the advisory. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these services to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 emphasizes the importance of implementing proper input validation and bounds checking in software development practices, particularly for services handling external input. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems running vulnerable versions of Cisco communications software, and implement regular security patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. According to ATT&CK framework, organizations should also consider implementing network detection capabilities that can identify suspicious certificate trust list requests and other potential exploitation indicators.