CVE-1999-1207 in NetXRay
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in web-admin tool in NetXRay 2.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service, and possibly execute arbitrary commands, via a long HTTP request.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-1207 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the web-admin tool component of NetXray 2.6, a network monitoring and analysis software product. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessively long HTTP request data, creating a condition where malicious actors can exploit the software's memory handling to disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative web interface functionality that is typically accessible over HTTP, making it a significant concern for network administrators who rely on this tool for monitoring network traffic and managing their systems.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the web-admin tool processes incoming HTTP requests without enforcing proper bounds checking on the length of input data. When an attacker sends an HTTP request containing an abnormally long payload, the software's internal buffer allocated for processing the request data becomes overwhelmed, leading to memory corruption. This memory corruption can manifest in two primary ways: first, the application may crash or become unresponsive, resulting in a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate administrative access; second, in more severe cases, the overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running process. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 indicates it involves classic stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on NetXray 2.6 for network monitoring and security analysis. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network to carry out attacks, significantly expanding the attack surface. The potential for both denial of service and arbitrary code execution makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can disrupt network monitoring capabilities while simultaneously providing attackers with a foothold for further compromise. Network administrators who depend on the web-admin interface for configuration management and monitoring functions face the risk of complete system compromise, potentially leading to unauthorized access to network traffic data and loss of critical monitoring capabilities that are essential for detecting and responding to security incidents.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows standard remote exploitation patterns where attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests to target the vulnerable web-admin interface. According to ATT&CK framework considerations, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation, as the successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges within the network monitoring environment. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor patches when available, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web-admin interface, and configuring firewalls to restrict access to administrative ports. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusually long HTTP requests and implementing input validation measures can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in network security tools, as even administrative interfaces that are not directly exposed to end users can become attack vectors when they contain buffer overflow flaws. Organizations should also consider alternative network monitoring solutions that have been more thoroughly vetted for memory safety issues and have established security track records.