CVE-2008-1289 in Asterisk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Asterisk Open Source 1.4.x before 1.4.18.1 and 1.4.19-rc3, Open Source 1.6.x before 1.6.0-beta6, Business Edition C.x.x before C.1.6.1, AsteriskNOW 1.0.x before 1.0.2, Appliance Developer Kit before 1.4 revision 109386, and s800i 1.1.x before 1.1.0.2 allow remote attackers to (1) write a zero to an arbitrary memory location via a large RTP payload number, related to the ast_rtp_unset_m_type function in main/rtp.c; or (2) write certain integers to an arbitrary memory location via a large number of RTP payloads, related to the process_sdp function in channels/chan_sip.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-1289 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting multiple versions of the Asterisk open source telephony platform and its commercial variants. This vulnerability impacts a wide range of Asterisk deployments including the core open source versions 1.4.x and 1.6.x, business editions, AsteriskNOW appliances, and various development kits. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) processing components of the telephony system, creating opportunities for remote code execution and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors that exploit different functions within the Asterisk codebase. The first vector targets the ast_rtp_unset_m_type function located in main/rtp.c, where attackers can manipulate RTP payload numbers to write a zero value to arbitrary memory locations. This particular flaw falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory segments. The second vector operates through the process_sdp function in channels/chan_sip.c, allowing attackers to write specific integer values to arbitrary memory locations through manipulation of RTP payload counts. This secondary vector demonstrates the broader scope of the vulnerability across different protocol handling components within the Asterisk architecture.
The operational impact of these buffer overflows extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as they create potential pathways for complete system compromise. Remote attackers who successfully exploit these vulnerabilities can potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems, gain unauthorized access to telephony services, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full system control. The nature of telephony infrastructure makes these vulnerabilities particularly dangerous as they can affect critical communication systems used by businesses, government agencies, and service providers. The attack vectors leverage standard network protocols and do not require authentication, making them particularly attractive to malicious actors seeking to compromise telephony infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1289 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to versions 1.4.18.1, 1.4.19-rc3, 1.6.0-beta6, and their respective commercial equivalents. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict RTP traffic to trusted sources only, as this reduces the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous RTP payload patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in telephony systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute commands on compromised systems. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of their telephony infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of their communication systems.