CVE-1999-0929 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
Novell NetWare with Novell-HTTP-Server or YAWN web servers allows remote attackers to conduct a denial of service via a large number of HTTP GET requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2026
This vulnerability affects Novell NetWare operating systems that include either the Novell-HTTP-Server or YAWN web server implementations, creating a significant security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The flaw manifests when the web server fails to properly handle excessive concurrent HTTP GET requests, leading to system resource exhaustion and subsequent denial of service conditions. The vulnerability represents a classic resource exhaustion attack vector where malicious actors can overwhelm the server's ability to process legitimate requests by flooding it with numerous simultaneous GET operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate request handling mechanisms within the web server software components. When multiple HTTP GET requests are simultaneously processed, the server's memory management and connection handling routines become overwhelmed, causing the system to either crash or become unresponsive to legitimate client requests. This behavior occurs because the server lacks proper rate limiting or connection queue management, allowing the attack to succeed with relatively simple tools that can generate high volumes of concurrent requests. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the core web serving functionality of the operating system, potentially rendering the entire network service unavailable.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-0929 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely affect business continuity and network availability for organizations relying on Novell NetWare infrastructure. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can prevent legitimate users from accessing web resources, potentially affecting critical business applications that depend on the web server functionality. Organizations may experience cascading effects where the unavailability of web services impacts downstream applications and user productivity. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the attack from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust connection handling and rate limiting mechanisms within the web server configuration. Organizations should configure the web servers to limit the number of concurrent connections and implement proper timeout mechanisms to prevent resource exhaustion. Network-level protections such as firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block excessive traffic patterns that may indicate an ongoing attack. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring capabilities allows administrators to detect unusual traffic patterns and respond appropriately to potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, applying vendor-supplied patches or upgrading to newer versions of the software that address these resource handling issues represents the most effective long-term solution.
This vulnerability aligns with several common attack patterns documented in the attack framework, particularly those involving resource exhaustion and denial of service attacks. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-400, which describes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to consume system resources beyond acceptable limits. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving service disruption and availability attacks, where adversaries target system resources to prevent legitimate users from accessing services. The vulnerability also reflects poor input validation and resource management practices that are commonly addressed through secure coding guidelines and defensive programming techniques.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to organizations that may have legacy Novell NetWare systems in production environments, where upgrading or patching may not be immediately feasible due to compatibility concerns or business continuity requirements. In such cases, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the exposure of vulnerable systems to external threats. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running affected software versions, enabling organizations to prioritize remediation efforts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against various attack vectors targeting network infrastructure components.