CVE-2013-10064 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2025
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in ActFax Server version 5.01. The server's RAW protocol interface fails to safely process user-supplied data in @F506 fax header fields due to insecure usage of strcpy. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted @F506 fields, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation requires network access to TCP port 4559 and does not require authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-10064 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in ActFax Server version 5.01 that demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and memory management practices. This issue resides within the server's RAW protocol interface, specifically in how it handles @F506 fax header fields that are designed to carry user-supplied data. The vulnerability stems from the insecure usage of the strcpy function, which lacks bounds checking and directly copies user-provided data into a fixed-size buffer without proper validation of the source data length. This primitive memory management error creates a predictable exploitation vector that allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its remote exploitability, as no authentication is required for exploitation, making it accessible to any network entity with access to the target system's TCP port 4559.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic stack buffer overflow pattern where the strcpy function is used inappropriately without proper size constraints. When the server receives a specially crafted @F506 fax header field containing excessive data, the function blindly copies this data into a stack buffer that is insufficiently sized to accommodate the input. This overflow allows an attacker to overwrite the return address of the calling function and potentially other stack variables, providing a pathway for code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only network access to TCP port 4559, which is the default port used by ActFax Server for its RAW protocol interface, eliminating the need for authentication and significantly broadening the attack surface. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be enforced through proper bounds checking and memory management protocols.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-10064 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the affected server and potentially the entire network infrastructure that the fax server may be connected to. This vulnerability can be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns, particularly in environments where fax servers are used for business communications and may contain sensitive data or serve as entry points for lateral movement. The lack of authentication requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in unpatched environments, as attackers can perform exploitation without prior access credentials. Network-based exploitation attempts can be automated and scaled across multiple targets, making this vulnerability attractive to both opportunistic attackers and organized threat groups. From an attack lifecycle perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploit for execution and T1071.004 for application layer protocol traffic encoding, as attackers may need to craft specific payloads to bypass detection mechanisms while maintaining the exploit's effectiveness.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to TCP port 4559, deployment of network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious @F506 field patterns, and application-level firewalls to filter potentially malicious fax headers. The most effective long-term solution involves applying the vendor-provided patches or upgrading to newer versions of ActFax Server that address the buffer overflow vulnerability through proper bounds checking and secure string handling functions. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network access controls that limit which systems can communicate with the fax server's RAW protocol interface, reducing the attack surface for this particular vulnerability. Regular security assessments should include verification of proper memory management practices in all network services, particularly those handling user-supplied data through protocols that may be vulnerable to buffer overflow attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all network infrastructure components, as unpatched systems represent the most common entry point for attackers targeting enterprise networks.