CVE-2000-0182 in Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
iPlanet Web Server 4.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a large number of GET commands, which consumes memory and causes a kernel panic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0182 affects the iPlanet Web Server version 4.1, a web server implementation that was widely deployed in enterprise environments during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This particular flaw represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits the server's handling of HTTP GET requests. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-400, which specifically addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," indicating that the system lacks proper bounds checking or resource management for incoming requests. The affected iPlanet Web Server implementation demonstrates poor input validation and resource allocation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessive request volumes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers send a large number of GET commands to the web server instance. These requests are processed sequentially by the server's kernel components, leading to progressive memory consumption that eventually overwhelms the system's available resources. The memory exhaustion ultimately results in a kernel panic, which is a critical system failure that causes the operating system to halt operations and typically requires a complete system reboot. This type of attack leverages the server's inability to properly rate limit or queue incoming requests, creating a scenario where legitimate system resources are consumed by malicious request flooding.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on iPlanet Web Server 4.1 for their web hosting needs. The denial of service condition renders the affected web server completely unavailable to legitimate users, potentially causing business disruption and financial loss. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target the service from anywhere on the network without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "Toggle Service State" and related denial of service operations that can be executed remotely.
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the server's insufficient resource management and request handling mechanisms. The iPlanet Web Server 4.1 implementation fails to implement proper rate limiting, request queuing, or memory allocation controls that would prevent a single attacker from consuming excessive system resources. The kernel panic resulting from memory exhaustion indicates that the system lacks proper error handling and resource recovery mechanisms. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing robust input validation and resource management practices, as outlined in security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should implement network-level protections including firewall rules, rate limiting, and intrusion detection systems to mitigate the risk of such attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the critical need for regular security updates and patches, as this specific flaw was likely addressed in subsequent versions of the iPlanet Web Server software through improved resource management and request handling mechanisms.