CVE-1999-0865 in Communigate Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in CommuniGatePro via a long string to the HTTP configuration port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-0865 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within CommuniGatePro software, specifically affecting the HTTP configuration port functionality. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessively long string inputs, creating a condition where memory boundaries are exceeded during processing. The vulnerability exists within the software's web interface configuration component, which serves as an administrative access point for system management operations. When an attacker submits a malformed payload containing an overly long string to the HTTP configuration port, the application's memory management fails to contain the input data within allocated buffers, resulting in unpredictable behavior and potential system compromise.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw manifests when the application processes HTTP requests through its configuration interface without implementing proper string length validation or memory allocation limits. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious code into adjacent memory segments, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete system takeover. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires network access to the affected HTTP configuration port, making it exploitable through remote attack vectors that align with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-0865 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the CommuniGatePro service account, which typically operates with elevated system permissions. The consequences include unauthorized data access, system integrity compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the vulnerable system resides. Organizations running affected versions of CommuniGatePro face significant risk of unauthorized access to email and messaging services, as the configuration port often provides access to critical system parameters and user management functions. The vulnerability's exploitation timeline is relatively immediate once the attack vector is identified, as the buffer overflow occurs during normal processing of HTTP requests without requiring special privileges or complex attack chains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability encompass multiple defensive layers including immediate patch application from the vendor, network segmentation to restrict access to the HTTP configuration port, and implementation of input validation controls. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of CommuniGatePro that address the buffer overflow condition through proper bounds checking mechanisms and memory management improvements. Network-level controls such as firewall rules restricting access to the HTTP configuration port from untrusted networks provide additional protection. The implementation of intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed HTTP requests containing overly long strings serves as an additional monitoring layer. Security configurations should enforce strict input validation at the application level, ensuring that all string inputs are properly bounded and validated before processing. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the broader application ecosystem, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in preventing exploitation of memory corruption flaws.