Published:2009/02/12  Last Updated:2009/02/12

JVN#29641290
Becky! Internet Mail buffer overflow vulnerability
Critical

Overview

Becky! Internet Mail contains a buffer overflow vulnerability.

Products Affected

  • Becky! Internet Mail Ver.2.48.02 and eariler

Description

Becky! Internet Mail is an email client software. Becky! Internet Mail contains a buffer overflow vulnerability as it does not properly handle read receipt requests.

Impact

If the user views a specially crafted email and allows a read receipt to be sent, arbitrary code may be executed.

Solution

Update the Software
Apply the latest updates provided by the vendor.

Workarounds
As a workaround to this vulnerability, in "General Setup", modify the setting for "How to respond to a request for 'read receipt'" to "ignore" until an update is completed.

Vendor Status

Vendor Status Last Update Vendor Notes
RimArts, Inc. Vulnerable 2009/02/12

References

  1. IPA
    Security Alert for Becky! Internet Mail Vulnerability

JPCERT/CC Addendum

Vulnerability Analysis by JPCERT/CC

Analyzed on 2009.02.12 Critical

Measures Conditions Severity
Access Required Routed - can be attacked over the Internet using packets
  • High
Authentication None - anonymous or no authentication (IP addresses do not count)
  • High
User Interaction Required Simple - the user must be convinced to take a standard action that does not feel harmful to most users, such as click on a link or view a file
  • Medium
Exploit Complexity Low-Medium - some expertise and/or luck required (most buffer overflows, guessing correctly in small space, expertise in Windows function calls)
  • Medium-High

Description of each analysis measures

Credit

Yuji Ukai of Fourteenforty Research Institute, Inc. reported this vulnerability to IPA.
JPCERT/CC coordinated with the vendor under Information Security Early Warning Partnership.

Other Information

JPCERT Alert
JPCERT Reports
CERT Advisory
CPNI Advisory
TRnotes
CVE CVE-2009-0569
JVN iPedia JVNDB-2009-000011

Update History