CVE-2000-0146 in Groupwise
Summary
by MITRE
The Java Server in the Novell GroupWise Web Access Enhancement Pack allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long URL to the servlet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0146 represents a classic denial of service weakness within the Novell GroupWise Web Access Enhancement Pack's Java Server component. This issue manifests when remote attackers submit excessively long URLs to the affected servlet, causing the system to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server's processing pipeline, specifically in how it handles URL parameters and request parsing. The Java Server component, which serves as the web interface for GroupWise email services, fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of incoming URL requests, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged to disrupt legitimate service availability.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically targeting the web server's request handling capabilities. The flaw can be categorized under CWE-129 Input Validation, where insufficient validation of input length allows malicious actors to craft oversized requests that overwhelm the server's memory allocation and processing resources. The attack vector involves sending malformed HTTP requests with URLs exceeding acceptable length thresholds, which the vulnerable Java Server cannot properly process or reject. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, where adversaries exploit weaknesses in network services to render them unavailable to legitimate users.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-0146 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect business continuity for organizations relying on GroupWise email services. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can prevent users from accessing their email accounts, sending messages, or performing other essential communication functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where GroupWise serves as a critical communication platform, as it can lead to significant productivity losses and potential security implications. Organizations may experience cascading effects where the service disruption impacts other dependent systems or processes that rely on email communication for their operation. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and request length restrictions within the web server configuration. System administrators should configure the Java Server to reject or truncate URLs exceeding predetermined length limits, typically well below the threshold that would cause system instability. The recommended approach involves applying the official Novell security patches or updates that address this specific vulnerability. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can be deployed to monitor and filter suspicious URL patterns before they reach the vulnerable server components. Organizations should also implement rate limiting mechanisms and connection timeouts to prevent resource exhaustion attacks. The security posture can be further strengthened by conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications and services within the organization's infrastructure.