CVE-2008-0912 in SQL Anywhere
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in mlsrv10.exe in Sybase MobiLink 10.0.1.3629 and earlier, as used by SQL Anywhere Developer Edition 10.0.1.3415 and probably other products, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a long (1) username, (2) version, or (3) remote ID. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0912 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in the mlsrv10.exe component of Sybase MobiLink 10.0.1.3629 and earlier versions. This issue affects SQL Anywhere Developer Edition 10.0.1.3415 and potentially other related products within the Sybase ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the mobile synchronization server process that handles remote connections from client devices. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes authentication and connection parameters including username, version information, and remote identification strings that exceed predetermined buffer limits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through heap memory corruption mechanisms that fall under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. When remote attackers provide excessively long strings for any of the three vulnerable parameters username, version, or remote ID, the mlsrv10.exe process fails to properly validate input length before copying data into fixed-size memory buffers allocated on the heap. This improper boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program structures, function pointers, or return addresses. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the buffer overflow without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the MobiLink server accepts connections from untrusted clients.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full arbitrary code execution capabilities. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can lead to complete system compromise where attackers gain the ability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the mlsrv10.exe process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The daemon crash scenario represents a more limited impact but still constitutes a significant availability threat that can disrupt mobile data synchronization services. Organizations relying on Sybase MobiLink for mobile database synchronization face potential data breaches, service interruptions, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in mobile applications that depend on this synchronization infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0912 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-supplied security updates. Organizations must also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the vulnerable mlsrv10.exe service to untrusted networks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual connection patterns, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed packets targeting these specific parameters, and establishing robust input validation controls at network boundaries. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected components within their Sybase ecosystem and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future releases.