CVE-2008-3908 in WordNet
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3908 affects Princeton WordNet version 3.0 and represents a critical buffer overflow issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the wordnet application's handling of various input sources. The flaw manifests across multiple attack vectors including command line arguments, environment variables, and user-supplied dictionary files, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through different execution paths. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations and allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the wordnet application's failure to properly validate input lengths when processing user-provided data. When attackers provide excessively long arguments, environment variables, or dictionary files, the application's buffer management routines fail to prevent overflow conditions. The specific environment variables affected include WNSEARCHDIR, WNHOME, and WNDBVERSION, which are commonly used to configure wordnet's search paths and database locations. These variables are processed without adequate length checks, allowing attackers to craft malicious inputs that exceed buffer boundaries. The command line argument handling follows similar patterns, where the application does not enforce reasonable limits on argument length before processing. Additionally, user-supplied dictionary files present another attack surface, as the application fails to validate the size or structure of external data files before parsing them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable privilege escalation when wordnet is invoked by other applications or services with elevated privileges. While the wordnet application itself typically runs with standard user privileges, the vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous in contexts where it serves as a third-party component within larger applications or system services. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities, potentially allowing them to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent access. The context-dependent nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires specific conditions, but once achieved, the impact can be significant. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) demonstrates its potential for advanced persistent threat scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3908 should focus on input validation and bounds checking implementation across all affected code paths. System administrators should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Princeton WordNet or implement strict input length restrictions when invoking wordnet applications. Environment variable validation should be implemented to prevent excessively long values from being processed, while command line argument parsing should enforce reasonable length limits. Additionally, deploying application whitelisting solutions and implementing proper privilege separation can help contain the impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly for applications that process external data or user-provided inputs. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual command line executions or environment variable modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given that this vulnerability affects a widely used lexical database tool, coordinated patch management and security awareness training for system administrators becomes critical to prevent exploitation in production environments.