CVE-2001-0708 in REXECD
Summary
by MITRE
Denicomp REXECD 1.05 and earlier allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0708 affects Denicomp REXECD version 1.05 and earlier implementations, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests as a denial of service attack. This flaw specifically occurs when the system processes incoming data strings that exceed predetermined length limits, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the remote execution component of the software, where the system fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of data received from remote connections.
This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of buffer overflow conditions and aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow issues. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to send a specially crafted long string to the vulnerable service, exploiting the lack of proper bounds checking in the data processing pipeline. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged to create persistent availability issues that may affect critical network operations. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where input length validation is either absent or insufficient to handle unexpected data lengths.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2001-0708 follows patterns consistent with the attack technique described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1499, which covers network denial of service attacks. When an attacker successfully crafts and transmits an overly long string, the system's memory management becomes corrupted, leading to application termination or system instability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require authentication or specialized privileges, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can establish a connection to the vulnerable service. The impact can be exacerbated in environments where the affected service operates as a critical component of network infrastructure or provides essential remote access capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected software versions, implementing input length restrictions at the network level, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous string length patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, establishing proper monitoring for unusual service behavior, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other legacy systems. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce new functionality issues while maintaining the service's intended operational capabilities.