CVE-2010-4714 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in Novell GroupWise before 8.02HP allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP Host header to (1) gwpoa.exe in the Post Office Agent, (2) gwmta.exe in the Message Transfer Agent, (3) gwia.exe in the Internet Agent, (4) the WebAccess Agent, or (5) the Monitor Agent.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4714 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting Novell GroupWise versions prior to 8.02HP. This vulnerability resides within multiple core components of the GroupWise messaging infrastructure, specifically targeting the Post Office Agent, Message Transfer Agent, Internet Agent, WebAccess Agent, and Monitor Agent. The flaw manifests when the system processes HTTP Host headers that exceed the allocated buffer space, creating conditions where attackers can overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental weakness of insufficient input validation in the HTTP Host header processing mechanisms across several GroupWise agents. When an attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request containing an overly long Host header, the system fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows for stack corruption that can be exploited to overwrite return addresses and function pointers, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability affects multiple agents simultaneously, indicating a systemic design flaw in the HTTP request handling code across the GroupWise platform.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on GroupWise messaging systems, as it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where GroupWise servers may be exposed to the internet. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within the network. The vulnerability's presence in core messaging agents means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to email communications, user credentials, and sensitive business data stored within the GroupWise environment.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) through the execution of arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability also corresponds to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader class of buffer overflow vulnerabilities that occur when data is written beyond the bounds of a stack-allocated buffer. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all GroupWise servers running versions prior to 8.02HP, as the window for exploitation remains open for systems that have not received the vendor-provided security updates. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict direct internet access to GroupWise agents, while monitoring for suspicious HTTP Host header patterns can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of input validation and bounds checking in network services, particularly those handling untrusted data from external sources, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and vulnerability management processes.