CVE-2008-0944 in Instant Messaging
Summary
by MITRE
Ipswitch Instant Messaging (IM) 2.0.8.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL dereference and application crash) via a version field containing zero.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0944 affects Ipswitch Instant Messaging version 2.0.8.1 and earlier implementations, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors. This flaw manifests when the application processes a version field containing a zero value, leading to a null pointer dereference that ultimately causes the application to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the messaging protocol handling mechanisms, specifically in how the software processes version information sent by remote peers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted messages containing a zero value in the version field of the communication protocol. When the Ipswitch IM client attempts to process this malformed data, the application fails to properly validate the input before attempting to dereference a null pointer, resulting in an unhandled exception that terminates the application process. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization where the application assumes all incoming data conforms to expected formats without proper validation checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Ipswitch Instant Messaging for their communication infrastructure. A remote attacker capable of sending malicious messages can systematically disrupt messaging services, potentially affecting business continuity and communication workflows. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the application crash may require manual restart procedures, leading to extended downtime periods. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can establish communication with the target system.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any system running Ipswitch IM 2.0.8.1 or earlier versions that accepts incoming messages from external sources. Network-based exploitation is straightforward as attackers need only send a message containing a zero in the version field to trigger the crash condition. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, and specifically relates to T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Ipswitch IM installations to versions that properly validate version field inputs and prevent null pointer dereference conditions. System administrators should also implement network-level filtering to block suspicious traffic patterns and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed version field communications. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems and ensure that all messaging applications undergo proper input validation testing. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that patched versions properly handle all edge cases in version field processing while maintaining full functionality for legitimate users.