Novell GroupWise Messenger nmma.exe DoS Vulnerability iDefense Security Advisory 10.02.06 http://www.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/ Oct 02, 2006 I. BACKGROUND Novell Messenger is a corporate, cross-platform instant messaging product that is based on Novell eDirectory. More information is available at the following site: http://www.novell.com/documentation/nm2/ II. DESCRIPTION Remote exploitation of a DoS vulnerability in Novell Inc.'s GroupWise Messenger could allow attackers to crash the Messenger server. The vulnerability specifically exists due to improper handling of a an HTTP POST request with a modified 'val' paramater. When such a request is received, a NULL pointer dereference occurs, leading to a crash of the service. III. ANALYSIS Successful exploitation of this vulnerability would result in the server crashing, rendering it unusable until it is restarted. Further exploitation does not appear possible. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must send a specially constructed HTTP request to the server on TCP port 8300. IV. DETECTION iDefense has confirmed this vulnerability in Novell GroupWise Messenger version 2. All previous versions are suspected vulnerable. V. WORKAROUND iDefense is currently unaware of any effective workarounds for this issue. VI. VENDOR RESPONSE Novell has released updates in the form of Hot Patches. More information on the security update can be found via the following link. http://support.novell.com/filefinder/security/index.html VII. CVE INFORMATION The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2006-4511 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 08/17/2006 Initial vendor notification 08/18/2006 Initial vendor response 10/02/2006 Coordinated public disclosure IX. CREDIT CIRT.DK is credited with the discovery of this vulnerability. Get paid for vulnerability research http://www.idefense.com/methodology/vulnerability/vcp.php Free tools, research and upcoming events http://labs.idefense.com/ X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright © 2006 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.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/