CVE-2001-0958 in Interscan Viruswall
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflows in eManager plugin for Trend Micro InterScan VirusWall for NT 3.51 and 3.51J allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via long arguments to the CGI programs (1) register.dll, (2) ContentFilter.dll, (3) SFNofitication.dll, (4) register.dll, (5) TOP10.dll, (6) SpamExcp.dll, and (7) spamrule.dll.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0958 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Trend Micro InterScan VirusWall for NT versions 3.51 and 3.51J. This security weakness resides within the eManager plugin component and specifically targets multiple CGI programs that handle user input without proper bounds checking. The affected modules include register.dll, ContentFilter.dll, SFNofitication.dll, TOP10.dll, SpamExcp.dll, and spamrule.dll, all of which process external arguments that can be manipulated by remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability. The buffer overflow condition occurs when these CGI programs receive excessively long arguments that exceed the allocated memory buffer space, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for malicious purposes.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices within the web server interface of the antivirus solution, creating an attack surface that remote threat actors can exploit from outside the network perimeter. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to initiate the attack, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments. The affected CGI programs process user-supplied parameters through HTTP requests, and when these parameters exceed the buffer limits, the program's execution flow becomes corrupted, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the web server process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further network infiltration and lateral movement within compromised environments. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain complete control over the infected system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or use as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. The vulnerability affects organizations running Trend Micro InterScan VirusWall versions 3.51 and 3.51J, which were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s, making this a significant concern for legacy system administrators. The attack vector through CGI programs aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to gain remote code execution, while the buffer overflow itself corresponds to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for Trend Micro InterScan VirusWall, which would address the buffer overflow conditions through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the vulnerable CGI interfaces, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization measures can provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary CGI functionality and ensuring that all systems are running patched versions of the software to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper software security practices including input validation, memory safety mechanisms, and regular security updates to maintain protection against known attack vectors.