CVE-2001-0707 in RSHD
Summary
by MITRE
Denicomp RSHD 2.18 and earlier allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long string to port 514.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0707 affects Denicomp RSHD version 2.18 and earlier implementations, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to trigger remote denial of service attacks. This flaw specifically targets the service running on port 514, which is the standard port for the remote shell service commonly known as rsh or remsh. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the RSHD daemon, where the system fails to properly handle excessively long string inputs submitted through the network interface. When a remote attacker sends a malformed packet containing an abnormally long string to the designated port, the application crashes due to memory corruption occurring during string processing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and ultimately cause application termination. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication credentials and can be executed from any remote location, making it a significant threat to network availability. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting network infrastructure and can potentially be combined with other exploits to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1595.001 which involves network scanning and reconnaissance activities that often precede such exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input sanitization and memory management practices that were common in legacy network services of that era, highlighting the importance of robust software development lifecycle security practices. Organizations running affected versions of Denicomp RSHD should immediately implement network segmentation measures to restrict access to port 514, disable unnecessary remote shell services, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying vendor-provided patches, upgrading to newer versions of the software that implement proper input validation, and implementing network access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable services to trusted networks only. Additionally, system administrators should consider migrating away from legacy rsh implementations to more secure alternatives such as ssh protocols that provide better authentication mechanisms and are less susceptible to these types of buffer overflow attacks. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of how insufficient security considerations during software development can create persistent threats that remain relevant even decades after their initial discovery, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive security testing and code review processes throughout the software development lifecycle.