CVE-2009-3038 in Lotus Notes connector
Summary
by MITRE
A certain ActiveX control in lnresobject.dll 7.1.1.119 in the Research In Motion (RIM) Lotus Notes connector for BlackBerry Desktop Manager 5.0.0.11 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Internet Explorer crash) by referencing the control s CLSID in the classid attribute of an OBJECT element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3038 represents a classic denial of service flaw within a Microsoft Internet Explorer ActiveX control implementation. This issue affects the lnresobject.dll component version 7.1.1.119 that is part of the Research In Motion Lotus Notes connector for BlackBerry Desktop Manager version 5.0.0.11. The vulnerability specifically targets the way Internet Explorer handles ActiveX controls when they are referenced through the classid attribute within an OBJECT HTML element. The flaw exists in the manner in which the browser processes the control's CLSID (Class Identifier) when loaded through the web interface, creating an exploitable condition that can trigger system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and error handling within the ActiveX control's implementation. When Internet Explorer encounters an OBJECT element with a classid attribute pointing to the vulnerable lnresobject.dll control, the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize the control reference, leading to a crash condition. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that can result in denial of service conditions. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to craft malicious web content that, when loaded in Internet Explorer, causes the browser to crash and terminate the user session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks within the context of a broader exploitation campaign. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver a denial of service attack against targeted users who have the affected BlackBerry Desktop Manager installed, effectively preventing legitimate access to corporate email services through the Lotus Notes connector. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates how seemingly minor vulnerabilities in desktop applications can create significant security implications when combined with web-based attack vectors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to adversaries with basic web development knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and user education about avoiding untrusted web content. The most effective approach involves updating to the latest version of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software that contains patched versions of the vulnerable ActiveX control. Organizations should also implement browser security policies that restrict ActiveX control loading or disable ActiveX controls entirely in Internet Explorer environments where the vulnerability exists. Additionally, network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help prevent exploitation by blocking access to known malicious web pages containing the vulnerable control references. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in ActiveX controls and the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party browser extensions and desktop integration components. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious ActiveX control loading patterns and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts.