CVE-2008-5402 in Trillian
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in the XML parser in Trillian before 3.1.12.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted XML expression, related to the "IMG SRC ID."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5402 represents a critical double free condition within the XML parser component of Trillian instant messaging client versions prior to 3.1.12.0. This flaw manifests when processing specially crafted XML expressions containing the "IMG SRC ID" construct, creating a scenario where memory allocated for XML parsing operations is freed twice, leading to potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-415, which specifically addresses double free conditions in software implementations. The attack vector requires remote exploitation through crafted XML content, making it particularly dangerous for instant messaging applications that process external data from untrusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Trillian's XML processing pipeline. When the application encounters a malformed XML expression with the IMG SRC ID attribute, the parser fails to properly track memory allocation and deallocation sequences. This oversight results in the same memory block being passed to the free function twice, causing heap corruption that can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic memory safety flaw where the application's XML parser does not adequately validate or sanitize input data before processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected systems running vulnerable versions of Trillian. Given that instant messaging applications often run with elevated privileges and may access sensitive user data, successful exploitation could lead to data theft, system compromise, or lateral movement within network environments. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to target systems, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where instant messaging clients are widely deployed. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as successful exploitation would likely involve execution of malicious payloads through compromised application processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5402 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment to update Trillian to version 3.1.12.0 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to XML content from untrusted sources and consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of vulnerable versions. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement proper input validation for all XML processing activities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated software to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in application functionality, while also verifying that the memory management improvements effectively prevent the double free condition from occurring during XML parsing operations.