Vulnerabilities > CVE-2008-4907 - Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Dovecot 1.1.4/1.1.5

047910
CVSS 4.3 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
MEDIUM
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
NONE
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
dovecot
CWE-20
nessus
exploit available

Summary

The message parsing feature in Dovecot 1.1.4 and 1.1.5, when using the FETCH ENVELOPE command in the IMAP client, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (persistent crash) via an email with a malformed From address, which triggers an assertion error, aka "invalid message address parsing bug."

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Dovecot
2

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
    This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the attacker finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
  • Server Side Include (SSI) Injection
    An attacker can use Server Side Include (SSI) Injection to send code to a web application that then gets executed by the web server. Doing so enables the attacker to achieve similar results to Cross Site Scripting, viz., arbitrary code execution and information disclosure, albeit on a more limited scale, since the SSI directives are nowhere near as powerful as a full-fledged scripting language. Nonetheless, the attacker can conveniently gain access to sensitive files, such as password files, and execute shell commands.
  • Cross Zone Scripting
    An attacker is able to cause a victim to load content into their web-browser that bypasses security zone controls and gain access to increased privileges to execute scripting code or other web objects such as unsigned ActiveX controls or applets. This is a privilege elevation attack targeted at zone-based web-browser security. In a zone-based model, pages belong to one of a set of zones corresponding to the level of privilege assigned to that page. Pages in an untrusted zone would have a lesser level of access to the system and/or be restricted in the types of executable content it was allowed to invoke. In a cross-zone scripting attack, a page that should be assigned to a less privileged zone is granted the privileges of a more trusted zone. This can be accomplished by exploiting bugs in the browser, exploiting incorrect configuration in the zone controls, through a cross-site scripting attack that causes the attackers' content to be treated as coming from a more trusted page, or by leveraging some piece of system functionality that is accessible from both the trusted and less trusted zone. This attack differs from "Restful Privilege Escalation" in that the latter correlates to the inadequate securing of RESTful access methods (such as HTTP DELETE) on the server, while cross-zone scripting attacks the concept of security zones as implemented by a browser.
  • Cross Site Scripting through Log Files
    An attacker may leverage a system weakness where logs are susceptible to log injection to insert scripts into the system's logs. If these logs are later viewed by an administrator through a thin administrative interface and the log data is not properly HTML encoded before being written to the page, the attackers' scripts stored in the log will be executed in the administrative interface with potentially serious consequences. This attack pattern is really a combination of two other attack patterns: log injection and stored cross site scripting.
  • Command Line Execution through SQL Injection
    An attacker uses standard SQL injection methods to inject data into the command line for execution. This could be done directly through misuse of directives such as MSSQL_xp_cmdshell or indirectly through injection of data into the database that would be interpreted as shell commands. Sometime later, an unscrupulous backend application (or could be part of the functionality of the same application) fetches the injected data stored in the database and uses this data as command line arguments without performing proper validation. The malicious data escapes that data plane by spawning new commands to be executed on the host.

Exploit-Db

descriptionDovecot 1.1.x Invalid Message Address Parsing Denial of Service Vulnerability. CVE-2008-4907. Dos exploit for linux platform
idEDB-ID:32551
last seen2016-02-03
modified2008-10-30
published2008-10-30
reporteranonymous
sourcehttps://www.exploit-db.com/download/32551/
titleDovecot 1.1.x Invalid Message Address Parsing Denial of Service Vulnerability

Nessus

  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-200812-16.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200812-16 (Dovecot: Multiple vulnerabilities) Several vulnerabilities were found in Dovecot: The
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id35108
    published2008-12-15
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/35108
    titleGLSA-200812-16 : Dovecot: Multiple vulnerabilities
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200812-16.
    #
    # The advisory text is Copyright (C) 2001-2016 Gentoo Foundation, Inc.
    # and licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike 
    # license. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(35108);
      script_version("1.13");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:45");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2008-4577", "CVE-2008-4578", "CVE-2008-4870", "CVE-2008-4907");
      script_bugtraq_id(31587);
      script_xref(name:"GLSA", value:"200812-16");
    
      script_name(english:"GLSA-200812-16 : Dovecot: Multiple vulnerabilities");
      script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package(s) in /var/db/pkg");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:
    "The remote Gentoo host is missing one or more security-related
    patches."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200812-16
    (Dovecot: Multiple vulnerabilities)
    
        Several vulnerabilities were found in Dovecot:
        The 'k'
        right in the acl_plugin does not work as expected (CVE-2008-4577,
        CVE-2008-4578)
        The dovecot.conf is world-readable, providing
        improper protection for the ssl_key_password setting
        (CVE-2008-4870)
        A permanent Denial of Service with broken mail
        headers is possible (CVE-2008-4907)
      
    Impact :
    
        These vulnerabilities might allow a remote attacker to cause a Denial
        of Service, to circumvent security restrictions or allow local
        attackers to disclose the passphrase of the SSL private key.
      
    Workaround :
    
        There is no known workaround at this time."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/200812-16"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "All Dovecot users should upgrade to the latest version:
        # emerge --sync
        # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=net-mail/dovecot-1.1.7-r1'
        Users should be aware that dovecot.conf will still be world-readable
        after the update. If employing ssl_key_password, it should not be used
        in dovecot.conf but in a separate file which should be included with
        'include_try'."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
      script_cwe_id(20, 264);
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:gentoo:linux:dovecot");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:gentoo:linux");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2008/12/14");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2008/12/15");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Gentoo Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Gentoo/release", "Host/Gentoo/qpkg-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("qpkg.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Gentoo/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Gentoo");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Gentoo/qpkg-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (qpkg_check(package:"net-mail/dovecot", unaffected:make_list("ge 1.1.7-r1"), vulnerable:make_list("lt 1.1.7-r1"))) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:qpkg_report_get());
      else security_warning(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = qpkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "Dovecot");
    }
    
  • NASL familyUbuntu Local Security Checks
    NASL idUBUNTU_USN-666-1.NASL
    descriptionIt was discovered that certain email headers were not correctly handled by Dovecot. If a remote attacker sent a specially crafted email to a user with a mailbox managed by Dovecot, that user
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id37538
    published2009-04-23
    reporterUbuntu Security Notice (C) 2008-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2009-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/37538
    titleUbuntu 8.10 : dovecot vulnerability (USN-666-1)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Ubuntu Security Notice USN-666-1. The text 
    # itself is copyright (C) Canonical, Inc. See 
    # <http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/>. Ubuntu(R) is a registered 
    # trademark of Canonical, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(37538);
      script_version("1.12");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:33:02");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2008-4907");
      script_xref(name:"USN", value:"666-1");
    
      script_name(english:"Ubuntu 8.10 : dovecot vulnerability (USN-666-1)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for updated packages.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:
    "The remote Ubuntu host is missing one or more security-related
    patches."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "It was discovered that certain email headers were not correctly
    handled by Dovecot. If a remote attacker sent a specially crafted
    email to a user with a mailbox managed by Dovecot, that user's mailbox
    would become inaccessible through Dovecot, leading to a denial of
    service.
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory. Tenable
    has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible
    without introducing additional issues."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://usn.ubuntu.com/666-1/"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected packages.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
      script_cwe_id(20);
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:dovecot-common");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:dovecot-dev");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:dovecot-imapd");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:dovecot-pop3d");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2008/11/07");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2009/04/23");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"Ubuntu Security Notice (C) 2008-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2009-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Ubuntu Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/Ubuntu", "Host/Ubuntu/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("ubuntu.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled") ) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/Ubuntu/release");
    if ( isnull(release) ) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu");
    release = chomp(release);
    if (! ereg(pattern:"^(8\.10)$", string:release)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu 8.10", "Ubuntu " + release);
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l") ) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Ubuntu", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"dovecot-common", pkgver:"1.1.4-0ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"dovecot-dev", pkgver:"1.1.4-0ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"dovecot-imapd", pkgver:"1:1.1.4-0ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"dovecot-pop3d", pkgver:"1.1.4-0ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      security_report_v4(
        port       : 0,
        severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
        extra      : ubuntu_report_get()
      );
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = ubuntu_pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "dovecot-common / dovecot-dev / dovecot-imapd / dovecot-pop3d");
    }
    

Statements

contributorJoshua Bressers
lastmodified2008-11-21
organizationRed Hat
statementNot vulnerable. This issue did not affect the versions of the dovecot package, as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 or 5.