BlackBerry fixes critical Enterprise Server flaw

BlackBerry

RIM has issued a fix for a serious security flaw in various versions of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES).

The BlackBerry manufacturer has not only issued patches for all affected versions, but offered a workaround for any administrators who were unable to download the fixes for whatever reason.

The buffer overflow vulnerability could cause the service to crash or allow for remote code execution.

"The issue relates to a known vulnerability in the PDF distiller component of the BlackBerry Attachment Service that affects how the BlackBerry Attachment Service processes PDF files," RIM noted in an advisory.

"Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires a malicious individual to persuade a BlackBerry smartphone user to open a specially-crafted PDF file on a BlackBerry smartphone that is associated with a user account on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server."

The vulnerability was given a score of 9.3 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System - an industry open standard designed to show how severe a flaw is.

BES is the software organisations use to manage their BlackBerry deployments. It lets businesses coordinate operations such as messaging and calendar entries.

The flaw cannot affect BlackBerry devices directly, RIM said.

The affected software versions include:

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express version 5.0.1 and 5.0.2 for Microsoft Exchange

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express version 5.0.2 for IBM Lotus Domino

BlackBerry Enterprise Server versions 4.1.3 through 5.0.2 for Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino

BlackBerry Enterprise Server versions 4.1.3 through 5.0.1 for Novell GroupWise

BlackBerry Professional Software version 4.1.4 for Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino

Tom Brewster

Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.

He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.