CVE-2000-0571 in LocalWEB HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
LocalWEB HTTP server 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0571 affects the LocalWEB HTTP server version 1.2.0, representing a classic denial of service weakness that exploits improper input handling mechanisms. This issue stems from the server's failure to adequately process or validate length parameters in HTTP GET requests, creating a condition where malicious actors can exploit this behavior to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's request parsing functionality, where it does not implement sufficient bounds checking or buffer management for incoming GET parameters.
From a technical perspective, the flaw manifests when the LocalWEB server receives an HTTP GET request containing an excessively long parameter string. The server's implementation lacks proper input validation and buffer overflow protection mechanisms, causing the system to either crash or become unresponsive when attempting to process these malformed requests. This behavior aligns with CWE-122, which describes buffer overflow vulnerabilities that occur when insufficient bounds checking prevents the system from properly handling input data that exceeds allocated memory space. The vulnerability creates a condition where the server's memory management becomes compromised, leading to system instability and service interruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to compromise system availability without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to perform denial of service attacks against web servers running LocalWEB 1.2.0, potentially affecting legitimate users who depend on the service for access to web content. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services. This vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks that target web services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and length restrictions for HTTP GET requests. System administrators should consider upgrading to patched versions of the LocalWEB server software, as vendors typically address such buffer overflow issues through code modifications that include proper bounds checking. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and request size monitoring mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for unusually long HTTP GET requests that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation approach should also include regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other web server implementations that might present analogous attack surfaces. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates that address such foundational flaws in web server software implementations.