CVE-2015-1902 in Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in IBM Domino 8.5 before 8.5.3 FP6 IF7 and 9.0 before 9.0.1 FP3 IF3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted BMP image, aka SPR KLYH9TSMLA.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1902 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting IBM Domino email and collaboration software versions 8.5.3 FP6 and earlier, as well as 9.0.1 FP3 and earlier. This flaw resides in the software's handling of BMP image files, specifically when processing crafted malicious image data that triggers memory corruption during image decoding operations. The vulnerability operates through a classic stack buffer overflow mechanism where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The attack vector requires remote exploitation through a maliciously crafted BMP image file, making it particularly dangerous for email systems and web applications that process untrusted image content. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack data. The attack follows the ATT&CK framework pattern for code injection techniques, specifically targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities that enable arbitrary code execution. IBM Domino's image processing functionality becomes a critical attack surface when handling external image data from untrusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's image parsing engine failing to properly validate the dimensions and data structure of BMP files before attempting to load them into memory. When a malicious BMP image is processed, the parser reads the image header information and allocates stack memory based on expected image parameters. However, the crafted image contains malformed header data that specifies dimensions larger than the actual allocated buffer space. During the image decompression process, the software writes pixel data beyond the allocated stack buffer boundaries, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow. The overflow typically occurs when the software attempts to copy image data from the file into a fixed-size stack buffer without proper validation of the source data size relative to the destination buffer capacity. This type of vulnerability is particularly challenging to exploit due to modern memory protection mechanisms like stack canaries and address space layout randomization, though successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1902 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access to affected Domino servers. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to email systems, potentially accessing sensitive corporate communications, user credentials, and business data stored within the Domino environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM Domino for email services, collaboration platforms, and web applications that process BMP image uploads from users. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to establish backdoors, escalate privileges, and maintain persistent access to the compromised systems. The vulnerability's remote nature makes it particularly dangerous for organizations with Domino servers exposed to the internet or those processing email from external sources. Organizations may face significant regulatory and compliance implications if the vulnerability leads to data breaches, as it directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of email communications and stored data. The impact is amplified in environments where Domino serves as a primary email infrastructure, as compromise of a single server can affect thousands of users and potentially expose sensitive corporate information.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Domino versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation. IBM released security fixes for both the 8.5.3 FP6 and 9.0.1 FP3 versions, which address the buffer overflow by implementing proper bounds checking during BMP image processing. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to Domino servers and monitor for suspicious image file uploads. Additional mitigations include implementing strict file type validation, deploying web application firewalls, and configuring email security appliances to scan and filter BMP image attachments. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and log file examination for unusual image processing activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in software development, particularly for applications handling untrusted file formats. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar issues in other software components and ensure comprehensive security posture maintenance. Regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify additional attack surfaces that may be vulnerable to similar memory corruption exploits.