CVE-2000-0417 in 3220-H DSL Router
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTP administration interface to the Cayman 3220-H DSL router allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long username or password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2024
The CVE-2000-0417 vulnerability affects the Cayman 3220-H DSL router's HTTP administration interface, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the router's web-based management system, specifically when processing username and password credentials submitted through HTTP requests. The flaw exists in the router's authentication handling code where it fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of user-supplied input before processing it within fixed-length buffers. When attackers submit excessively long strings as usernames or passwords, the system's buffer management routines become overwhelmed, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in the router's complete service disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, covering stack-based buffer overflow scenarios. The attack vector operates through the network layer where remote adversaries can access the router's HTTP management interface without requiring authentication, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for network administrators. The operational impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the denial of service affects the entire network infrastructure, potentially blocking legitimate users from accessing router configuration capabilities while simultaneously disrupting network connectivity for all devices dependent on the router's services.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise and home network environments where the Cayman 3220-H routers are deployed. The attack requires no specialized tools or deep technical knowledge, making it accessible to attackers with minimal expertise in network security exploitation. The vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.002, representing spearphishing via social engineering. Organizations utilizing these routers face potential business disruption and increased security risk when the vulnerability remains unpatched, as attackers can easily exploit it to render network services unavailable.
Effective mitigation strategies include implementing immediate firmware updates from the vendor, which would address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and length checking mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing access control measures such as restricting HTTP management interface access to specific IP addresses or implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns in authentication attempts and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network device security and underscores the necessity for regular security assessments and timely patch management across all network infrastructure components.