CVE-1999-1068 in HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Oracle Webserver 2.1, when serving PL/SQL stored procedures, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-1068 affects Oracle Webserver version 2.1 specifically when processing PL/SQL stored procedures through HTTP GET requests. This issue represents a classic denial of service weakness that exploits the server's handling of extended input parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web server's request processing pipeline, particularly when dealing with long parameter strings in GET requests. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HTTP GET requests with excessively long parameter values, causing the server to consume excessive resources or crash entirely. The vulnerability impacts the availability of the web service by preventing legitimate users from accessing the PL/SQL applications hosted on the server. This weakness falls under the category of insufficient input validation, which is commonly categorized as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where the web server is accessible over the network.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the Oracle Webserver's request parsing and parameter handling components. When a GET request containing an extended parameter string is received, the server's internal buffer or processing mechanisms fail to properly handle the excessive length, leading to resource exhaustion or stack overflow conditions. The server's inability to gracefully manage long input parameters creates a scenario where malicious actors can systematically consume CPU cycles or memory resources, ultimately leading to service disruption. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol level of the web server, affecting the core functionality of the application delivery infrastructure rather than just the application logic itself. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input sanitization and length checking mechanisms that should be implemented as part of secure coding practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-1068 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity and customer satisfaction. Organizations relying on Oracle Webserver 2.1 for hosting critical PL/SQL applications face significant risk of service unavailability during exploitation attempts. The vulnerability can be exploited repeatedly, allowing attackers to maintain persistent denial of service conditions until the server is restarted or the underlying issue is patched. This type of attack can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where web applications serve as critical business functions, potentially resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing and input validation in legacy systems, as many organizations may have deployed these older versions without adequate security hardening measures. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual request patterns and consider rate limiting mechanisms to mitigate the impact of such attacks. The vulnerability underscores the need for comprehensive security assessments of legacy systems and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all components of the application infrastructure.