CVE-2008-1905 in MediaHome
Summary
by MITRE
NMMediaServer.exe in Nero MediaHome 3.3.3.0 and earlier, as used in Nero 8.3.2.1 and earlier, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a long HTTP request to TCP port 54444, a different vector than CVE-2007-2322.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1905 affects NMMediaServer.exe component within Nero MediaHome 3.3.3.0 and earlier versions, which are integrated into Nero 8.3.2.1 and earlier releases. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes users to potential denial of service attacks through network-based exploitation. The affected service operates on TCP port 54444, making it accessible to remote attackers who can exploit the vulnerability without requiring local system access or authentication. The flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that leads to application crash and subsequent service unavailability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the HTTP request processing logic of the NMMediaServer.exe component. When a remote attacker sends an HTTP request containing an excessively long payload to the designated port 54444, the application fails to properly validate the request length or structure before attempting to process the data. This lack of proper bounds checking results in the application attempting to dereference a NULL pointer, causing an immediate application crash and termination of the media server service. The vulnerability differs from CVE-2007-2322 in its exploitation vector, as it specifically targets the HTTP protocol implementation rather than other attack vectors previously documented.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant disruption for users who rely on Nero MediaHome for media management and streaming services. The denial of service condition effectively renders the media server component unusable, preventing legitimate users from accessing their media libraries or streaming content through the affected application. Network administrators and system operators face the challenge of maintaining service availability while the vulnerability remains unpatched, potentially leading to extended downtime for media services. The remote nature of the attack means that unauthorized parties can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where media servers may be exposed to external networks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper input validation and memory management errors that frequently lead to application instability and potential security consequences. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through service denial of service attacks. The attack requires minimal skill and resources to execute, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services without requiring advanced technical capabilities or extensive reconnaissance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Nero's official sources, as the company likely released security updates addressing this specific NULL pointer dereference issue. Network segmentation and firewall configuration can provide temporary protection by blocking access to TCP port 54444 from untrusted networks, though this approach only limits exposure rather than eliminating the underlying vulnerability. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns or repeated connection attempts to the affected port, which could indicate active exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other network services and applications within the organization's infrastructure.