CVE-2000-0473 in SimpleServer:WWW
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in AnalogX SimpleServer 1.05 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via a long GET request for a program in the cgi-bin directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0473 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw within AnalogX SimpleServer version 1.05 that specifically targets the handling of HTTP GET requests directed toward cgi-bin directories. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of software security flaws that can be exploited to disrupt system operations and compromise service availability. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server's request processing logic, where the server fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of incoming GET parameters.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTTP GET request containing an excessively long parameter string directed at a program located within the cgi-bin directory structure. The SimpleServer application processes this request without proper bounds checking, causing the input data to overflow the allocated buffer space in memory. This overflow corrupts adjacent memory locations and can potentially lead to application crashes or system instability, thereby enabling a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate users from accessing the affected web services.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web server availability and reliability since it allows attackers to remotely disrupt service without requiring authentication or specialized access privileges. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages standard HTTP protocols and common directory structures, making it easily exploitable by attackers with basic technical knowledge. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution, though the specific report indicates primarily denial of service effects.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a manifestation of CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on data structures. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes the use of application or service exploitation to cause denial of service conditions. Organizations operating AnalogX SimpleServer versions prior to 1.06 should implement immediate mitigations including software updates, input validation restrictions, and network-level filtering to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of HTTP request patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide early warning of attempted attacks against this specific vulnerability.