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iDEFENSE Security Advisory 08.24.04: CDE Mailer argv[0] Format String Vulnerability
From: idlabs-advisories () idefense com
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 11:41:53 -0400
CDE Mailer argv[0] Format String Vulnerability iDEFENSE Security Advisory 08.24.04 www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=132&type=vulnerabilities August 24, 2004 I. BACKGROUND CDE Mailer (dtmail) is the mail user agent (MUA) for CDE, which is installed on Solaris 8 and 9 by default. It provides an intuitive, easy-to-use GUI for reading, sending, and managing electronic mail. Dtmail supports both MIME and Sun Mail Tool message formats for reading and sending messages. In addition to local and NFS mailboxes, it also supports the use of IMAP4 for accessing remote mailboxes. Dtmail provides a mail-pervasive desktop environment by supporting the Mail(4) and Display(4) Media Exchange messages. Other applications can compose, send, and display electronic mail messages using the ToolTalk API and these Media Exchange messages. II. DESCRIPTION Exploitation of a format string vulnerability in the dtmail binary included with CDE can allow local attackers to gain mail group privileges. The vulnerability specifically exists due to improper usage of a formatted print function which allows a user supplied format to be processed via the argv[0] value. Local attackers can specify a special argv[0] containing format string characters to trigger the vulnerability and execute arbitrary code. Program arguments are copied onto the heap before being processed, so systems with non-executable stack protection are also easily affected. III. ANALYSIS Successful exploitation leads to group mail access. CDE is a widely deployed default desktop environment for UNIX operating systems. Gaining the ability to read other user email accounts, including root, could lead to exposure of highly sensitive data. The vulnerability is easily exploitable even when stack protections are enabled, furthering the impact of exposure. IV. DETECTION iDEFENSE has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in Solaris 8 and Solaris 9. It is believed that this vulnerability only affects the Solaris implementation of CDE Mailer. V. WORKAROUND iDEFENSE is currently unaware of a workaround for this vulnerability. VI. VENDOR RESPONSE The Sun advisory for this issue (SunAlert #57627) is available at: http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doc=fsalert%2F57627 VII. CVE INFORMATION A Mitre Corp. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) number has not been assigned yet. VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE 03/04/2004 Initial vendor contact (Opengroup.org) 03/04/2004 iDEFENSE clients notified 08/11/2004 Initial vendor response (Opengroup.org - further coordination requested) 04/19/2004 Initial vendor contact (Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sun Microsystems) 04/19/2004 Initial vendor response (Sun Microsystems) 04/20/2004 Initial vendor response (Hewlett-Packard) 08/24/2004 Public disclosure IX. CREDIT iDEFENSE Labs is credited with discovering this vulnerability. Get paid for vulnerability research http://www.idefense.com/poi/teams/vcp.jsp X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright (c) 2004 iDEFENSE, Inc. Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDEFENSE. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please email customerservice () idefense com for permission. Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an as is condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
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