CVE-2016-5762 in Novell Groupwise
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the Post Office Agent in Novell GroupWise before 2014 R2 Service Pack 1 Hot Patch 1 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long (1) username or (2) password, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5762 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Novell GroupWise's Post Office Agent component, specifically affecting versions prior to 2014 R2 Service Pack 1 Hot Patch 1. This vulnerability resides in the authentication handling mechanism where the software fails to properly validate input lengths for username and password fields, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when an attacker submits a specially crafted input string that exceeds the maximum integer value that can be handled by the application's internal counter mechanisms, leading to unpredictable behavior in memory allocation and data handling processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-defined pattern that aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions. When a malicious user inputs an excessively long username or password string, the application's internal integer variables overflow beyond their maximum representable values, causing the heap-based buffer overflow to occur. This buffer overflow creates opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code or manipulate program execution flow, ultimately allowing for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected service. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the vulnerability can be particularly dangerous as it affects dynamically allocated memory segments that are crucial for application stability and security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected GroupWise server's security posture. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive email communications, potentially leading to data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks, and further lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on GroupWise for business-critical communications. Organizations may face significant regulatory and compliance implications if such vulnerabilities are exploited, especially in industries with strict data protection requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided hot patch 1 for Novell GroupWise 2014 R2 Service Pack 1, which addresses the integer overflow condition by implementing proper input validation and bounds checking. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to GroupWise services to trusted networks only, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar integer overflow conditions in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure, as these vulnerabilities often follow similar patterns across different software platforms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and code injection techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security posture improvements.