CVE-2010-0358 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the server in IBM Lotus Domino 7 and 8.5 FP1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon exit) and possibly have unspecified other impact via a long string in a crafted LDAP message to a TCP port, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-3087.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0358 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the server component of IBM Lotus Domino versions 7 and 8.5 FP1. This security weakness manifests specifically when the affected software processes crafted LDAP messages containing excessively long strings transmitted over TCP ports. The flaw resides in the server's memory management mechanisms, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory regions within the heap allocation space. Such buffer overflow conditions typically arise from improper validation of input data length before copying or processing user-supplied content into fixed-size memory buffers. The vulnerability's classification as heap-based indicates that the overflow occurs within dynamically allocated memory regions rather than stack-based buffers, making it particularly challenging to detect and exploit consistently.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, though that represents the primary risk scenario. Remote attackers capable of sending malicious LDAP messages to designated TCP ports can trigger daemon exits, effectively causing service interruption and system unavailability. However, the description notes potential for "unspecified other impact" suggesting that exploitation might enable more sophisticated attack vectors beyond simple service disruption. The vulnerability operates independently from CVE-2009-3087, indicating distinct code paths and attack surfaces within the Lotus Domino software architecture. This separation implies that organizations may be vulnerable to multiple attack vectors simultaneously, complicating defensive strategies and increasing overall risk exposure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," when considering the remote attack surface. The attack requires minimal privileges as it operates over network protocols and leverages the server's legitimate LDAP processing functionality to deliver malicious payloads. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that LDAP is commonly used for directory services and authentication, making it a natural target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise systems. Organizations utilizing IBM Lotus Domino in production environments face significant risk exposure, particularly those with exposed TCP ports or systems handling LDAP communications. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that exploitation might enable privilege escalation, information disclosure, or even remote code execution depending on successful exploitation conditions and system configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0358 should prioritize immediate implementation of vendor-provided security patches and updates for IBM Lotus Domino 7 and 8.5 FP1 installations. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict unauthorized access to LDAP ports and reduce attack surface exposure. Input validation controls should be strengthened to limit string length parameters in LDAP message processing, though this represents a secondary mitigation given the fundamental memory corruption nature of the flaw. Monitoring and logging capabilities should be enhanced to detect anomalous LDAP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify unpatched systems and ensure comprehensive protection across the enterprise infrastructure. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious LDAP traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability.