CVE-2001-0563 in Electrocomm
Summary
by MITRE
ElectroSystems Engineering Inc. ElectroComm 2.0 and earlier allows a remote attacker to create a denial of service via large (> 160000 character) strings sent to port 23.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0563 affects ElectroSystems Engineering Inc.'s ElectroComm 2.0 software and earlier versions, presenting a significant remote denial of service risk. This issue manifests when the system receives oversized input strings exceeding 160000 characters on port 23, which is traditionally used for telnet services. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during input validation processes, where the application fails to properly handle or limit the size of incoming data streams. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within network service implementations, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt system availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the ElectroComm software's telnet server component. When a remote attacker sends data exceeding the 160000 character threshold, the application's internal buffers cannot accommodate such oversized inputs, leading to memory corruption or application crashes. This behavior aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-122, which deals with buffer overflows that can result in system instability or complete service interruption. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access or local privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where telnet services are exposed to the internet.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting critical infrastructure systems that rely on ElectroComm for communication protocols. Organizations utilizing this software in industrial control systems or network management environments face significant risk of operational downtime, which could translate to financial losses or safety hazards depending on the specific deployment context. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, as it only necessitates sending oversized strings to the target port, making it an attractive vector for both automated attacks and casual exploitation attempts. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service, where adversaries target network availability through various means of service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0563 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from ElectroSystems Engineering Inc. or replacement with more secure alternatives that properly implement input validation and buffer management. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit exposure by restricting direct access to port 23 from untrusted networks. Implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying oversized telnet packets may provide additional monitoring capabilities. Organizations should also consider migrating away from telnet protocols entirely in favor of more secure alternatives such as ssh, which inherently provide better protection against such input validation vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within legacy systems that may not have been updated to address this specific flaw. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in network services, particularly those exposed to untrusted network environments where automated exploitation attempts are common.