CVE-2008-0356 in Presentation Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Independent Management Architecture (IMA) service in Citrix Presentation Server (MetaFrame Presentation Server) 4.5 and earlier, Access Essentials 2.0 and earlier, and Desktop Server 1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an invalid size value in a packet to TCP port 2512 or 2513.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0356 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Independent Management Architecture service of Citrix Presentation Server products. This issue affects multiple Citrix server products including MetaFrame Presentation Server 4.5 and earlier versions, Access Essentials 2.0 and earlier, and Desktop Server 1.0. The flaw exists in the IMA service which operates on TCP ports 2512 and 2513, making it accessible to remote attackers who can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication. The buffer overflow occurs when the service receives a malformed packet containing an invalid size value, which causes the application to write beyond the bounds of allocated memory buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. When an attacker sends a specially crafted packet with an invalid size value to either TCP port 2512 or 2513, the buffer overflow can be exploited to overwrite critical memory structures including return addresses and function pointers. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the IMA service process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication credentials, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the remote code execution capability to establish persistent access and escalate privileges.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow requires careful crafting of network packets to trigger the memory corruption. Attackers must construct packets that contain size values exceeding the buffer capacity, causing the service to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This can result in stack corruption, heap corruption, or other memory layout modifications that allow attackers to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices within the IMA service implementation, specifically failing to properly validate the size parameter before processing the packet data. Organizations running affected Citrix products face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise entire server environments, potentially leading to data breaches, system takeover, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate resources. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application, as it targets a service exposed on standard network ports.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of vendor patches and updates provided by Citrix to address the buffer overflow in the IMA service. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to TCP ports 2512 and 2513, particularly when these ports are not essential for business operations. Network access control lists and firewalls should be configured to block inbound connections to these specific ports from untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious packet patterns targeting these ports can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider disabling the IMA service entirely if it is not required for operations, as this eliminates the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potentially affected services or applications within the Citrix environment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in network service implementations, as recommended by industry standards including CWE guidelines for secure coding practices and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for vulnerability management and remediation.