CVE-2000-1025 in eWave ServletExec
Summary
by MITRE
eWave ServletExec JSP/Java servlet engine, versions 3.0C and earlier, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a URL that contains the "/servlet/" string, which invokes the ServletExec servlet and causes an exception if the servlet is already running.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1025 affects the eWave ServletExec JSP/Java servlet engine versions 3.0C and earlier, representing a significant denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers. This flaw specifically targets the servlet engine's handling of URLs containing the "/servlet/" string pattern, which triggers an improper exception handling mechanism within the software architecture. The vulnerability stems from the software's inability to properly manage concurrent servlet execution attempts, creating a condition where legitimate requests can inadvertently trigger system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the servlet engine's request processing logic where the presence of the "/servlet/" string pattern causes the system to attempt to invoke the ServletExec servlet component. When this servlet is already active or when the system encounters an unexpected state during servlet initialization, an exception is thrown that is not properly caught or handled by the application. This exception propagation leads to the termination of the servlet execution process, effectively causing the service to become unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-400, which describes unchecked exceptions in software implementations that can lead to system instability and denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to web applications hosted on affected ServletExec servers, as attackers can readily exploit it using simple HTTP requests containing the triggering URL pattern. The impact extends beyond mere service disruption to potentially affect business continuity and customer access to web services. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to cause the denial of service condition. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting web services, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining web application infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of ServletExec should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the software, implementing input validation controls to filter or reject URLs containing the problematic "/servlet/" pattern, and deploying network-level firewalls or web application firewalls to block known malicious request patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper exception handling in server-side applications and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous URL patterns can trigger cascading failures in web application infrastructure. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual servlet execution patterns or exception occurrences that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched software to ensure that legitimate servlet functionality remains intact while eliminating the vulnerability conditions that enable the denial of service attack.