CVE-2001-0392 in Financials Server
Summary
by MITRE
Navision Financials Server 2.60 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by sending a null character and a long string to the server port (2407), which causes the server to crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0392 affects Navision Financials Server version 2.60 and earlier, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to achieve remote denial of service. This flaw specifically manifests when the server receives a malformed input sequence containing a null character followed by an excessively long string on port 2407, which is the default communication port for the Navision Financials Server. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and string handling mechanisms within the server application, allowing malicious actors to craft specially designed packets that trigger memory corruption conditions. The issue is particularly concerning as it does not require authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The flaw occurs because the server application does not properly validate the length of incoming strings or check for null terminators before processing user-supplied data. When a null character is followed by an extended string, the server's string processing functions fail to handle the boundary conditions correctly, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in application termination. This behavior is consistent with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1498, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1595, which covers network infiltration techniques that can lead to system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-0392 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can potentially compromise business continuity for organizations relying on Navision Financials Server for critical financial operations. The denial of service condition affects the availability of financial services and can lead to significant business disruption, particularly in environments where real-time financial processing is essential. Organizations may experience extended downtime while system administrators work to restore service, and the vulnerability could be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns targeting financial institutions. The impact is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability affects a core financial application, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt critical business processes or serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0392 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement network-level filtering to restrict access to port 2407, limiting exposure to unauthorized users and reducing the attack surface. The most effective immediate solution involves applying vendor patches or upgrading to Navision Financials Server versions that address the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the affected server to only trusted administrative hosts. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known malicious patterns can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, which should be reinforced through security awareness training for developers and regular code reviews to prevent similar issues in future implementations.