Description Preview
The installation of Sophos PureMessage for Microsoft Exchange 3.0 before 3.0.2, when both anti-virus and anti-spam are supported, does not create or launch the associated scan engines when the system is under heavy load, which has unspecified impact, probably remote bypass of scanner protection or a denial of service (message loss or delay).
Overview
This CVE describes a flaw in Sophos PureMessage for Microsoft Exchange in versions prior to 3.0.2 where the scan engines fail to be created or started under heavy load when antivirus and anti-spam features are enabled. The impact is not explicitly defined, but it is likely to involve a remote bypass of scanner protection or a denial of service manifested as message loss or delay.
Remediation
- Upgrade to Sophos PureMessage for Microsoft Exchange 3.0.2 or later where the issue is fixed.
- If immediate upgrade is not possible, contact Sophos support for a potential workaround or mitigation and request guidance on temporarily mitigating heavy-load scenarios.
- After updating, verify that the antivirus and anti-spam scan engines initialize and operate normally under simulated high-load conditions.
- Implement monitoring and alerting to detect scan-engine startup failures or delays, and establish a plan to scale resources during peak loads.
- Plan for a staged rollout and conduct testing in a non-production environment before applying the fix across production systems.
References
- CVE-2008-7106 — MITRE CVE entry: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-7106
- puremessage-av-as-unspecifed(52926) — XForce Vulnerabilities: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/52926
- Sophos Knowledgebase Article 44385: http://www.sophos.com/support/knowledgebase/article/44385.html
Industry ExposureMost to leastThis section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.
- Accommodation & Food ServicesAccommodation & Food Services: Low
- Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation ServicesAdministrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services: Low
- Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & HuntingAgriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting: Low
- Arts, Entertainment & RecreationArts, Entertainment & Recreation: Low
- ConstructionConstruction: Low
- Educational ServicesEducational Services: Low
- Finance and InsuranceFinance and Insurance: Low
- Health Care & Social AssistanceHealth Care & Social Assistance: Low
- InformationInformation: Low
- Management of Companies & EnterprisesManagement of Companies & Enterprises: Low
- ManufacturingManufacturing: Low
- MiningMining: Low
- Other Services (except Public Administration)Other Services (except Public Administration): Low
- Professional, Scientific, & Technical ServicesProfessional, Scientific, & Technical Services: Low
- Public AdministrationPublic Administration: Low
- Real Estate Rental & LeasingReal Estate Rental & Leasing: Low
- Retail TradeRetail Trade: Low
- Transportation & WarehousingTransportation & Warehousing: Low
- UtilitiesUtilities: Low
- Wholesale TradeWholesale Trade: Low

