CVE-2009-0410 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Off-by-one error in the SMTP daemon in GroupWise Internet Agent (GWIA) in Novell GroupWise 6.5x, 7.0, 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.03HP1a, and 8.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long e-mail address in a malformed RCPT command, leading to a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0410 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the SMTP daemon of Novell GroupWise Internet Agent versions 6.5x through 8.0. This issue stems from an off-by-one error in the handling of email addresses during the RCPT command processing within the SMTP protocol implementation. The flaw specifically manifests when the GWIA receives a malformed RCPT command containing an excessively long email address that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs in the core SMTP processing functionality that handles incoming email traffic, making it a prime target for exploitation in remote code execution scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to send a specially crafted email message containing an overly long email address in the RCPT command portion of the SMTP transaction. When the GWIA processes this malformed command, the off-by-one error causes the buffer to be written beyond its allocated boundaries, potentially overwriting critical program memory including return addresses and function pointers. This memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow to attacker-controlled code, enabling arbitrary code execution on the affected system. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system. The buffer overflow occurs in the SMTP daemon's input validation routine, specifically during the parsing of recipient addresses in the RCPT TO command.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive email data and system resources managed by the GroupWise Internet Agent. Organizations relying on these older versions of GroupWise would face significant risk of unauthorized access to corporate email systems, potentially leading to data breaches, email spoofing, and further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, indicating a long-standing issue that was not properly addressed in the product lifecycle, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-critical applications. The affected systems could be compromised to serve as relay points for further attacks or to exfiltrate sensitive information, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise email infrastructure. This type of vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates and patches, as the issue remained unpatched for an extended period in affected versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected GroupWise versions, with administrators prioritizing updates to the latest available releases that address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement network-level protections including SMTP filtering rules that limit the length of email addresses in RCPT commands, though this represents a temporary workaround rather than a permanent fix. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened around GroupWise servers to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous SMTP traffic patterns and malformed RCPT commands that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as implementing proper input validation, using safe string handling functions, and conducting regular security assessments of email infrastructure components. Additionally, organizations should consider migrating away from unsupported software versions to ensure continued security support and protection against known vulnerabilities.