CVE-2011-0916 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the SMTP service in IBM Lotus Domino allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via long arguments in a filename parameter in a malformed MIME e-mail message, aka SPR KLYH889M8H.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0916 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within IBM Lotus Domino's SMTP service implementation. This security weakness specifically manifests when processing malformed MIME email messages containing excessively long arguments within filename parameters, creating a remote code execution vector that adversaries can exploit from outside the target network. The vulnerability affects IBM Lotus Domino versions prior to 8.5.2 Fix Pack 2 and 9.0, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of this email server platform in enterprise environments. The flaw resides in the improper validation of user-supplied input during MIME parsing operations, where the application fails to adequately check the length of filename parameters before copying them into fixed-size stack buffers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack buffer overflow pattern where malicious input exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing adjacent memory to be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. When a specially crafted MIME message containing an overly long filename parameter is processed by the SMTP service, the vulnerable code attempts to store this data in a stack-based buffer without proper bounds checking. This overflow can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical stack data structures, allowing remote attackers to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code. The vulnerability specifically impacts the MIME parsing functionality within the Domino email server's SMTP service, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on email processing for business operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive email data. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can gain persistent access to email servers, potentially enabling them to read, modify, or delete email messages, access user credentials, and establish backdoor access for further exploitation. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly attractive for cybercriminals and nation-state actors. Organizations using IBM Lotus Domino servers are at risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory violations, especially in environments where email contains sensitive business or personal information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0916 primarily focus on applying official patches from IBM, specifically the fixes included in IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Fix Pack 2 and 9.0 releases. Organizations should also implement network-level protections including email filtering solutions that can detect and block malformed MIME messages before they reach the SMTP service. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the email processing pipeline can provide defense-in-depth protection. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, while ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a remote code execution technique that can be used for initial access and privilege escalation. Network segmentation and monitoring of SMTP traffic can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all Domino servers are properly patched and configured according to IBM's security recommendations.