Ipswitch IMail IMAP SELECT Command DoS Vulnerability
iDEFENSE Security Advisory 05.24.05
www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=241&type=vulnerabilities
May 24, 2005
I. BACKGROUND
Ipswitch IMail server is a Windows based messaging solution with a
customer base of over 53 million users. More information about the
application is available at:
http://www.ipswitch.com/products/IMail_Server/index.html.
II. DESCRIPTION
Remote exploitation of a denial of service vulnerability in Ipswitch
Inc.'s Imail IMAP server allows attackers to crash the target service
thereby preventing legitimate usage.
The problem specifically exists in the handling of long arguments to the
SELECT command. When a string approximately 260 bytes in size is
supplied a stack-based buffer overflow occurs that results in an
unhandled access violation forcing the daemon to exit. The issue is not
believed to be further exploitable.
III. ANALYSIS
Successful exploitation allows remote to crash vulnerable IMAP servers
and thereby prevent legitimate usage. The SELECT command is only
available post authentication and therefore valid credentials are
required to exploit this vulnerability
IV. DETECTION
iDEFENSE has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in the latest
version of Ipswitch IMAIL, version 8.13. Version 8.12 is also confirmed
as vulnerable. It is suspected that earlier versions are vulnerable as
well.
V. WORKAROUND
As this vulnerability is exploited after authentication occurs, ensuring
that only trusted users have accounts can mitigate the risk somwhat. As
a more effective workaround, consider limiting access to the IMAP server
by filtering TCP port 143. If possible, consider disabling IMAP and
forcing users to use POP3.
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
The vendor has released the following patch to fix this vulnerability:
ftp://ftp.ipswitch.com/Ipswitch/Product_Support/IMail/imail82hf2.exe
The associated vendor advisory can be found at:
http://www.ipswitch.com/support/imail/releases/imail_professional/im82hf
2.html
VII. CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CAN-2005-1254 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in
the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for
security problems.
VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
04/15/2005 Initial vendor notification
05/10/2005 Initial vendor response
05/24/2005 Coordinated public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
Sebastian Apelt is credited with this discovery.
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X. LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright (c) 2005 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.
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