CVE-2000-0964 in HiNet LP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the web administration service for the HiNet LP5100 IP-phone allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary commands via a long GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The CVE-2000-0964 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the web administration service of the HiNet LP5100 IP-phone device. This vulnerability exists within the device's web interface implementation where insufficient input validation occurs when processing HTTP GET requests. The flaw stems from improper bounds checking in the handling of user-supplied data, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that exceed the allocated buffer space. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the device's administrative web service, which typically requires elevated privileges to access, making it a prime target for exploitation. The affected device operates within enterprise and business communication environments where IP-phones serve as critical infrastructure components for voice communication.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the web administration service processes GET requests containing excessively long parameter values or query strings. The service fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers, creating a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition. When an attacker sends a specially crafted GET request with a payload exceeding the buffer capacity, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the program's execution flow. This overflow can be exploited to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data within the program's memory space. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where the buffer size is insufficient for the input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution within the device's operating environment. While the primary effect manifests as a denial of service through system crashes or restarts, the buffer overflow condition creates opportunities for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Attackers could potentially manipulate the program's execution flow to redirect control to malicious code injected through the overflow, allowing for arbitrary command execution with the privileges of the web service process. This capability transforms the vulnerability from a mere availability threat into a potential compromise of the entire device, potentially enabling attackers to gain persistent access to the network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly dangerous in business environments where IP-phones are often configured with administrative credentials and network access rights.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0964 should focus on immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing input validation controls that strictly enforce maximum length limits for HTTP GET parameters, preventing oversized requests from reaching the vulnerable buffer handling code. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected device's web administration interface to trusted networks only. The implementation of web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems can help detect and block malicious GET requests containing suspicious payload patterns. Device vendors should provide firmware updates that address the buffer overflow condition through proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network services. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls to limit administrative access to IP-phones and other networked devices to reduce the attack surface available to potential attackers.