CVE-2009-3863 in Groupwise
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the gxmim1.dll ActiveX control in Novell Groupwise Client 7.0.3.1294 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a long argument to the SetFontFace method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3863 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the gxmim1.dll ActiveX control component of Novell Groupwise Client version 7.0.3.1294. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the SetFontFace method, which fails to properly handle excessively long string arguments that exceed the allocated buffer space. The flaw resides in the ActiveX control's memory management implementation where the application does not perform bounds checking before copying user-supplied data into fixed-length memory buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to manipulate memory contents beyond intended boundaries.
From a technical perspective, this buffer overflow vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious input string that exceeds the predetermined buffer size allocated for the FontFace parameter within the ActiveX control. When the SetFontFace method processes this oversized argument, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program state information, function return addresses, or other control data structures. This memory corruption directly leads to application instability and ultimately results in a complete application crash, effectively enabling a denial of service condition that disrupts legitimate user access to Groupwise client functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3863 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications within enterprise email environments. Organizations utilizing Novell Groupwise Client 7.0.3.1294 face significant risk of unauthorized service interruption, particularly in environments where email availability is critical for business operations. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, email attachments, or crafted documents that invoke the vulnerable ActiveX control when opened within Internet Explorer or other browsers that support ActiveX controls. This attack surface is particularly concerning given that ActiveX controls are frequently enabled by default in corporate environments, making exploitation relatively straightforward for threat actors with basic knowledge of web-based attack techniques.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping it to the T1203 technique for legitimate credential exposure through process injection or memory manipulation. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with broader attack patterns involving client-side exploitation of ActiveX controls, which often serve as initial access vectors in more sophisticated attack chains. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, applying the vendor-provided patch for Groupwise Client 7.0.3.1294, and implementing network-based restrictions that prevent access to potentially malicious content from untrusted sources. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual application crash patterns or memory corruption events that may indicate exploitation attempts, while network segmentation strategies should limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts across the enterprise infrastructure.