CVE-2001-0458 in ePerl
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in ePerl before 2.2.14-0.7 allow local and remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0458 represents a critical security flaw in ePerl versions prior to 2.2.14-0.7, affecting both local and remote attack vectors. This issue stems from multiple buffer overflow conditions within the ePerl application, which is a perl-based web server designed to process perl scripts for web content generation. The buffer overflows occur when the application processes user-supplied input without adequate bounds checking, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. These vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited both locally by users with system access and remotely by attackers accessing the web server through network connections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper memory handling within ePerl's input processing functions. When the application receives input data through web requests or local file operations, it fails to validate the length of incoming data against allocated buffer sizes. This allows attackers to overflow the designated memory buffers and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, including return addresses and executable code segments. The flaw manifests in various parts of the application's codebase where string operations are performed without proper boundary checks, creating multiple attack surfaces for exploitation. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The attack vectors leverage the principle of code injection through buffer overflow mechanisms, enabling arbitrary command execution on affected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-0458 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers can leverage these buffer overflows to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the ePerl process, which typically runs with web server privileges. This could result in data theft, system modification, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the affected infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations running older versions of ePerl, particularly those using it as a web server component for perl script execution. The remote exploit capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for web-facing systems, as it can be triggered through standard web browser interactions without requiring authentication. Organizations using ePerl for web content delivery are at risk of unauthorized code execution, which can lead to complete system takeover and potential lateral movement within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0458 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to ePerl version 2.2.14-0.7 or later, which contains patches addressing the identified buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable ePerl installations to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary perl script execution capabilities, implementing input validation and sanitization at multiple layers, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 for scripting and T1068 for exploit development, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted perl scripts and establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar issues in other legacy applications. The remediation process requires careful testing of updated software versions to ensure compatibility with existing web applications while maintaining security posture against this and related buffer overflow vulnerabilities.