CVE-2001-0223 in wwwwais.25.c
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in wwwwais allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long QUERY_STRING (HTTP GET request).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0223 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the wwwwais web server component that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the web server processes HTTP GET requests containing excessively long QUERY_STRING parameters, creating a condition where memory boundaries are exceeded and potentially allowing malicious code execution. The flaw resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input within the web server's request processing pipeline, where input validation mechanisms fail to adequately constrain the length of query parameters.
This buffer overflow vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where the web server's internal buffer allocation does not properly validate input length before copying user-provided data. The attack vector leverages the HTTP GET method through the QUERY_STRING parameter, which is commonly used in web applications for passing data to server-side scripts. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request with an overly long query string, the wwwwais server fails to properly manage memory allocation, causing the buffer to overflow into adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution flow control mechanisms such as return addresses or function pointers, enabling attackers to redirect program execution to malicious code injected into the buffer space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected system's security posture. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the web server, potentially escalating privileges to the system level depending on the server's execution context. The vulnerability affects systems where wwwwais is deployed as a web server component, making it particularly dangerous for organizations running legacy web infrastructure or older versions of web server software that may not have received security patches. The exploitability of this vulnerability is relatively high due to the common nature of HTTP GET requests and the predictability of buffer overflow exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0223 should focus on immediate patch application from the software vendor, as this vulnerability was addressed through proper input validation and buffer management updates. Organizations should implement network-based security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block overly long query strings or malformed HTTP requests before they reach the vulnerable web server. Input validation mechanisms should be strengthened to enforce strict limits on QUERY_STRING parameter lengths and implement proper sanitization of user input. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of wwwwais and ensure proper network segmentation to limit potential attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage buffer overflow vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code on target systems, emphasizing the importance of proper memory management and input validation in preventing such attacks.