SkipNavigation
Home | FAQ | Contact | Privacy Policy
US-CERT
American Flag
  Vulnerability
Notes
Database

Search Vulnerability Notes

Vulnerability Notes Help Information


 
 View Notes By
  Name

ID Number

CVE Name

Date Public

Date Published

Date Updated

Severity Metric
 Other Documents
  Technical Alerts

Technical Bulletins

Alerts

Security Tips

Vulnerability Note VU#646976

RIM BlackBerry Enterprise Server Attachment Service does not properly handle PNG image files

Overview

The Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry Attachment Service contains a vulnerability in the way the service handles PNG files. By causing the service to render a specially crafted PNG file and convincing a user to view the file on a BlackBerry Handheld device, an attacker could execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service to the Attachment Service.

I. Description

The BlackBerry Attachment Service is a component of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). The BlackBerry Attachment Service renders certain types of files sent as email attachments for display on BlackBerry Handhelds and other BlackBerry client devices. A vulnerability in the way the service renders Portable Network Graphic (PNG) format image files could allow an attacker supplying a specially crafted PNG file to execute arbitrary code or cause the service to stop functioning. A user must view the attacker-supplied attachment on a BlackBerry Handheld in order to trigger the vulnerability.

The underlying vulnerability may be related to the way PNG uses zlib.

II. Impact

By supplying a specially crafted PNG image as an email attachment and convincing a user to view the image on a BlackBerry Handheld, a remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service to the Blackberry Attachment Service. The attacker may be able to take control of a vulnerable system.

A denial of service may only affect some users, and the Attachment Service may start new threads immediately or after a specified time period (25 minutes by default).

III. Solution

Upgrade

From RIM Technical Knowledge Center article KB-04756:

    For Microsoft Exchange

    Install BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0 Service Pack 3, then install version 4.0 Service Pack 3, Hotfix 1.

    For IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise

    Install BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0 Service Pack 3.

    To obtain the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software, go to www.blackberry.com/Downloads.
Disable PNG processing, image attachment distiller, and/or Attachment Service

As described in RIM Technical Knowledge Center article KB-04756, "An administrator can exclude PNG images from being processed by the Attachment Service in the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, or disable the Attachment Service completely."

Systems Affected
VendorStatusDate NotifiedDate Updated
Research in Motion (RIM)Vulnerable9-Jan-2006

References


http://events.ccc.de/congress/2005/fahrplan/events/596.en.html
http://www.blackberry.com/knowledgecenterpublic/livelink.exe/fetch/2000/8021/728075/728850/728215/?nodeid=1167794

Credit

This vulnerability was reported by FX of Phenoelit. Thanks to RIM for information used in this document.

This document was written by Art Manion.

Other Information

Date Public:2005-12-27
Date First Published:2006-01-09
Date Last Updated:2006-01-09
CERT Advisory: 
CVE-ID(s):CVE-2005-2344
NVD-ID(s):CVE-2005-2344
US-CERT Technical Alerts: 
Metric:17.55
Document Revision:22

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.
 

 
Page Corner Image
Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization
Disclaimers and copyright information
Get Adobe Reader Get Adobe Reader