CVE-2011-0913 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in ndiiop.exe in the DIIOP implementation in the server in IBM Lotus Domino before 8.5.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a GIOP getEnvironmentString request, related to the local variable cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0913 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the DIIOP implementation of IBM Lotus Domino server software. This vulnerability specifically affects the ndiiop.exe component responsible for handling DIIOP (Distributed Interface for Object Request Broker) communications, which serves as a bridge for CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) based communications. The flaw exists in versions of IBM Lotus Domino prior to 8.5.3, making it a significant security concern for organizations relying on older implementations of this enterprise collaboration platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a GIOP (General Inter-ORB Protocol) getEnvironmentString request that triggers an improper bounds check on a local variable cache within the ndiiop.exe process. When processing maliciously crafted GIOP requests, the application fails to properly validate input data lengths against the allocated stack buffer space, resulting in a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition. This allows remote attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations with controlled data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the running process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates over network protocols, enabling remote exploitation without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to compromise entire enterprise collaboration environments. IBM Lotus Domino servers typically serve as critical infrastructure components for email, collaboration, and business application hosting, making successful exploitation particularly damaging. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, establish persistent backdoors, or escalate privileges to system-level access. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations may not even be aware of compromise until after significant damage has occurred, as the vulnerability can be exploited from anywhere on the internet without authentication.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official IBM security patches released for versions 8.5.3 and later, which address the buffer overflow through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to DIIOP ports and related CORBA services, particularly when these services are not essential for business operations. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems capable of monitoring for suspicious GIOP traffic patterns and conducting regular security assessments of Domino server configurations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and represents a common attack vector that maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078 Valid Accounts for privilege escalation and persistence within compromised environments.