CVE-2008-4834 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in SMB in the Server service in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, and Server 2003 SP1 and SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed values of unspecified "fields inside the SMB packets" in an NT Trans request, aka "SMB Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2021
The CVE-2008-4834 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Server Message Block protocol implementation in Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Packs 2 and 3, and Windows Server 2003 Service Packs 1 and 2. The flaw manifests in the Server service component when processing NT Transaction requests containing malformed field values within SMB packets. This vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and constitutes a fundamental security weakness that can be exploited remotely without authentication.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SMB protocol handler, particularly in the NT Trans request processing mechanism. When the Server service receives an SMB packet with malformed field values, the application fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses and executable code segments. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a prime example of how protocol-level flaws can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote code execution attacks that can compromise entire systems without requiring user interaction or authentication. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially malformed SMB packets that trigger the buffer overflow condition during NT Trans request processing. Once successful, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the SYSTEM account, effectively providing complete control over the affected system. This vulnerability was widely exploited in the wild, particularly during 2008 and subsequent years, making it one of the most significant remote code execution vulnerabilities of its time. The attack vector operates through standard SMB network traffic, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where SMB services are commonly enabled and accessible.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4834 should focus on immediate patch deployment and network segmentation measures. Microsoft released security update MS08-067 that addressed this vulnerability, and organizations must ensure all affected systems receive this patch promptly. Network-level protections include blocking SMB traffic at firewalls, particularly on ports 139 and 445, and implementing SMBv1 protocol disablement where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in protocol implementations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous SMB traffic patterns and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.