CVE-2009-2575 in BlackBerry 8800
Summary
by MITRE
The Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry 8800 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and browser crash) via a large integer value for the length property of a Select object, a related issue to CVE-2009-1692.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2575 affects the Research In Motion BlackBerry 8800 mobile device, representing a critical security flaw in the device's web browser implementation. This issue specifically targets the handling of HTML Select objects within the browser environment, where the device fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper bounds checking mechanisms when interpreting the length property of Select elements, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt normal device operations.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the browser's rendering engine where it processes HTML form elements without adequate sanitization of the length property value. When an attacker crafts a malicious web page containing a Select object with an excessively large integer value for its length property, the browser attempts to allocate memory resources proportional to this oversized value. This behavior constitutes a classic buffer overflow scenario where the system consumes excessive memory resources, leading to system instability. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length properties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system crashes and complete denial of service conditions. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by simply loading a malicious webpage that contains the specially crafted Select element, requiring no authentication or privileged access. The device's browser consumes excessive memory resources during processing, potentially causing the entire system to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This represents a significant threat to mobile device security as it allows attackers to compromise device functionality without physical access or complex attack vectors. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting mobile platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate device-level protections and broader security architecture improvements. Device manufacturers should implement proper bounds checking for all HTML element properties, particularly those related to length and size parameters, to prevent excessive resource allocation. Network administrators should deploy web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious sites and implement content security policies that restrict potentially dangerous HTML elements. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and patches, as this issue was resolved through firmware updates from RIM. Organizations should establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual memory consumption patterns and implement device management policies that restrict browser functionality for high-risk environments. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for robust input validation and resource management in mobile browser implementations, as outlined in industry best practices for secure coding and mobile security frameworks.