CVE-2008-1920 in ICQ
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the boxelyRenderer module in the Personal Status Manager feature in ICQ 6.0 build 6043 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted personal status message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1920 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the boxelyRenderer module of ICQ 6.0 build 6043's Personal Status Manager feature. This flaw resides in the application's handling of personal status messages, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered remotely by malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects the memory management operations within the rendering engine responsible for processing status updates, making it a prime target for remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The heap-based nature of this overflow indicates that the application fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into heap-allocated memory regions, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted personal status message is sent to a targeted ICQ user. The boxelyRenderer module processes this message without adequate bounds checking, allowing an attacker to overflow the allocated heap buffer and overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or more severely arbitrary code execution within the context of the running ICQ process. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking permits data to be written beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting critical program data or control structures. The attack vector operates over network communication channels where personal status messages are transmitted between ICQ clients, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might receive messages from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. The Personal Status Manager feature is typically used for sharing user availability and status information, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or conduct more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability affects a widely deployed instant messaging client, increasing its potential impact across various user populations and environments. The exploitability of this condition increases with the prevalence of ICQ users and the likelihood of receiving untrusted status messages from network peers or malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1920 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ICQ installations to address the heap-based buffer overflow in the boxelyRenderer module. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious status messages, while also monitoring for suspicious network activity related to ICQ communications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code and establish persistent access. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable ICQ versions and deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of instant messaging clients and communication protocols should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities, with particular attention to buffer handling operations in rendering modules. The remediation approach should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the buffer overflow conditions have been properly addressed without introducing new stability issues in the application's functionality.