CVE-2001-0049 in SOHO Firewall
Summary
by MITRE
WatchGuard SOHO FireWall 2.2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a large number of GET requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0049 affects WatchGuard SOHO FireWall versions 2.2.1 and earlier, representing a classic denial of service weakness that exploits the firewall's handling of HTTP GET requests. This issue demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the firewall's request processing mechanism where the system fails to properly manage or limit incoming HTTP traffic, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt network services. The vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks, where malicious actors can flood the firewall with excessive GET requests to consume available system resources and render the device non-functional.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and request handling within the WatchGuard firewall's web interface processing module. When the firewall receives a large volume of GET requests, it fails to implement proper rate limiting or connection throttling mechanisms, allowing the attacker to overwhelm the system's processing capabilities. This flaw essentially creates a condition where the firewall's HTTP server component becomes saturated with requests, leading to resource exhaustion and subsequent service disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer, targeting the firewall's web management interface rather than the underlying network protocols, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-0049 extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can compromise the overall security posture of networks relying on affected WatchGuard firewalls. When a firewall becomes unavailable due to this denial of service attack, network administrators lose visibility into their network traffic and cannot enforce security policies, potentially leaving the network exposed to other attacks. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under CWE-400 as "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion." The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it accessible to attackers with basic networking knowledge while potentially causing significant operational disruption.
Organizations using affected WatchGuard SOHO FireWall versions should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation to isolate critical systems from potentially compromised firewall interfaces, implementing rate limiting on HTTP traffic at network boundaries, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual GET request patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1498 as "Network Denial of Service" and T1566 as "Phishing with Social Engineering," as attackers may use this vulnerability as part of broader attack campaigns. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect and respond to excessive HTTP GET request patterns, and regularly update firewall firmware to address known vulnerabilities. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to patched versions of the WatchGuard SOHO FireWall software that include proper request handling and rate limiting capabilities, ensuring that the device can properly manage legitimate traffic while blocking malicious flood attempts.