CVE-2000-0704 in Worldview
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in SGI Omron WorldView Wnn allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via long JS_OPEN, JS_MKDIR, or JS_FILE_INFO commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0704 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the SGI Omron WorldView Wnn software implementation. This system serves as a Japanese text input system that facilitates the processing of Japanese language data through various commands including JS_OPEN, JS_MKDIR, and JS_FILE_INFO. The buffer overflow occurs when the application fails to properly validate the length of input parameters passed to these specific commands, allowing attackers to overflow the allocated buffer space and potentially overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw specifically manifests in the command processing logic of the Wnn system where fixed-size buffers are used to store command parameters without adequate length validation. When attackers send maliciously crafted input strings that exceed the buffer capacity, the overflow can corrupt the stack or heap memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems utilizing SGI Omron WorldView Wnn, particularly in environments where remote access is permitted. Attackers can exploit this weakness from remote locations to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, potentially gaining full administrative control. The impact extends beyond simple command execution as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. Organizations running Japanese text processing applications on affected systems face elevated risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
The attack vector for this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted commands through network connections to the vulnerable Wnn service. The attacker must be able to establish communication with the target system and send the malicious JS_OPEN, JS_MKDIR, or JS_FILE_INFO commands with oversized parameters. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where the Wnn service is exposed to untrusted networks or where proper network segmentation has not been implemented. The exploitation process typically requires knowledge of the specific buffer sizes and memory layout to effectively craft the malicious payload.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected systems with vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to the Wnn service, limiting exposure to trusted networks only. Input validation controls should be strengthened to enforce proper length limits on all command parameters. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual command patterns or excessive parameter lengths that may indicate attempted exploitation. The implementation of address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary services and implementing proper access controls to minimize the attack surface and reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.