CVE-2008-5660 in vinagre
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in the vinagre_utils_show_error function (src/vinagre-utils.c) in Vinagre 0.5.x before 0.5.2 and 2.x before 2.24.2 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in a crafted URI or VNC server response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2025
The CVE-2008-5660 vulnerability represents a critical format string flaw in the vinagre_utils_show_error function within the Vinagre remote desktop client software. This vulnerability affects versions 0.5.x prior to 0.5.2 and 2.x prior to 2.24.2, creating a significant security risk for users of the application. The flaw specifically resides in the src/vinagre-utils.c source file where error handling routines process user-provided input without proper sanitization, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can craft specially formatted input strings to manipulate the application's behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling within the error reporting mechanism of the Vinagre application. When the vinagre_utils_show_error function processes error messages, it fails to properly escape or sanitize format specifiers contained in user-supplied data such as URIs or VNC server responses. This allows attackers to inject format string specifiers that can cause the application to read from arbitrary memory locations or execute unintended code sequences. The vulnerability leverages the fundamental weakness in how printf-style functions handle format strings, where user-controlled data is directly interpreted as format specifiers rather than literal text.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution attacks against vulnerable systems. An attacker who can influence the URI or VNC server response that the Vinagre client processes can craft malicious input that triggers the format string vulnerability. This could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the Vinagre application. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be initiated through standard remote desktop connections, making it accessible to attackers without requiring local access to the target system.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-134, which specifically addresses the use of format strings with user-supplied data, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in security-critical applications. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw would be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through client-side applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the dangers of treating user-provided data as trusted content without adequate validation. Organizations using Vinagre should immediately implement the available patches and consider network segmentation to limit exposure, while security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability in their environments.