CVE-2008-1109 in Evolution
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Evolution 2.22.1 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long DESCRIPTION property in an iCalendar attachment, which is not properly handled during a reply in the calendar view (aka the Calendars window).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-1109 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the Evolution email client version 2.22.1 that specifically targets the calendar component functionality. This vulnerability exists in the handling of iCalendar attachments and occurs when the application processes a long DESCRIPTION property within these calendar files. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through user-assisted remote attacks, meaning that an attacker does not need to directly interact with the victim's system but can leverage social engineering or phishing techniques to deliver the malicious calendar attachment. The vulnerability manifests specifically within the calendar view or Calendars window when the application attempts to reply to calendar events that contain the malformed DESCRIPTION property.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and memory management within the Evolution calendar processing module. When the application encounters an iCalendar attachment with an excessively long DESCRIPTION property, it fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a fixed-size heap buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the application's memory structure and enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow, which means the overflow occurs in heap-allocated memory rather than stack memory, making it more difficult to detect and exploit reliably. The attack vector requires a user to open a malicious iCalendar attachment and then reply to the calendar event, which triggers the vulnerable code path during the processing of the DESCRIPTION field.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise when successful. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the Evolution client, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects all users of Evolution 2.22.1 who are exposed to malicious calendar attachments, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where calendar sharing and collaboration are common practices. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious calendar file and replying to it, making it a significant threat vector for phishing campaigns targeting business users. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that enables memory corruption attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Evolution client to version 2.22.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement strict email filtering policies to prevent the delivery of suspicious iCalendar attachments and consider implementing sandboxing techniques for calendar processing. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper bounds checking and memory management in client-side applications, particularly those handling external data formats like iCalendar. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious calendar attachment patterns and monitor for potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through social engineering and remote code execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive security awareness training. The fix for this vulnerability exemplifies the critical nature of input validation and proper memory management practices, as outlined in industry security standards and best practices for preventing buffer overflow exploits.