CVE-2001-0028 in Oops Proxy Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the HTML parsing code in oops WWW proxy server 1.5.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a large number of " (quotation) characters.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0028 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the HTML parsing functionality of the oops WWW proxy server version 1.5.2 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the server's handling of HTML content, specifically when processing quotation characters that are used to define attribute values in HTML markup. The flaw manifests when the proxy server encounters an excessive number of quotation marks in incoming HTTP requests, causing the application to write data beyond the bounds of allocated memory buffers. Such buffer overflow conditions create opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate the server's execution flow and potentially gain unauthorized control over the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the proxy server process. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing a large number of quotation characters that trigger the buffer overflow during HTML parsing operations. When the proxy server attempts to parse these malformed requests, the overflow can corrupt the stack memory and potentially redirect program execution to malicious code injected by the attacker. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in software to gain unauthorized access. The attack vector leverages the proxy server's role as an intermediary in web traffic processing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers without requiring direct access to the target network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0028 should prioritize immediate patching of the oops WWW proxy server to version 1.5.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the proxy server to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Additionally, input validation mechanisms should be strengthened to filter out excessive quotation characters and other potentially malicious HTML sequences before they reach the parsing layer. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of HTTP requests that might indicate exploitation attempts, including monitoring for unusually large payloads containing repeated special characters. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper bounds checking in network applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough code reviews and security testing of proxy and web server software components. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on exploitation attempts targeting known buffer overflow vulnerabilities in web infrastructure components.