CVE-2008-1054 in surgemail
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the _lib_spawn_user_getpid function in (1) swatch.exe and (2) surgemail.exe in NetWin SurgeMail 38k4 and earlier, and beta 39a, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request with multiple long headers to webmail.exe and unspecified other CGI executables, which triggers an overflow when assigning values to environment variables. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1054 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting NetWin SurgeMail versions 38k4 and earlier, including beta 39a. This flaw exists within the _lib_spawn_user_getpid function in two primary executables: swatch.exe and surgemail.exe. The vulnerability manifests when these applications process HTTP requests containing multiple long headers directed toward webmail.exe and other unspecified CGI executables. The buffer overflow occurs during the assignment of values to environment variables, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data exceeds the allocated stack buffer space. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates how improper input validation in web application components can lead to severe security implications, particularly when these components handle user-supplied data through HTTP headers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enabling remote code execution. When an attacker crafts an HTTP request with multiple long headers, the overflow causes the daemon process to crash, resulting in immediate service disruption. However, the more concerning aspect is the potential for arbitrary code execution, which would allow attackers to gain control over the affected system. The vulnerability affects the webmail.exe component and unspecified other CGI executables, indicating a broader attack surface within the SurgeMail application suite. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain remote access to systems. The stack overflow condition creates a predictable memory corruption pattern that could be leveraged by attackers to manipulate program execution flow, potentially allowing them to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the vulnerable application processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1054 should focus on immediate patching of the affected SurgeMail versions, as the vulnerability has been identified and documented for over a decade. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP header patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Input validation controls should be strengthened at the application level to limit header length and enforce proper bounds checking for environment variable assignments. Additionally, system hardening measures including stack protection mechanisms, address space layout randomization, and non-executable stack protections can help reduce the exploitability of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security practices in web application development, particularly when dealing with CGI applications that process user input through HTTP headers. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter out potentially malicious header content and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts targeting vulnerable applications.