CVE-2001-0975 in Internet Directory
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Oracle Internet Directory Server (LDAP) 2.1.1.x and 3.0.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated by the PROTOS LDAPv3 test suite.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0975 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Oracle Internet Directory Server version 2.1.1.x and 3.0.1, specifically affecting the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol implementation. This vulnerability exists in the LDAP server component that handles directory service requests, making it a significant security risk for organizations relying on Oracle's directory services infrastructure. The flaw manifests when the server processes certain LDAP requests that contain oversized data payloads, particularly those related to the PROTOS LDAPv3 test suite which was designed to evaluate LDAP server robustness and compliance with standards.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the LDAP processing routines of Oracle Internet Directory Server. When maliciously crafted LDAP requests are received, the server fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers in memory. This allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program state information including return addresses and function pointers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the LDAP server's handling of certain protocol elements that are part of the LDAPv3 standard, making it exploitable through legitimate LDAP communication channels without requiring special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the Oracle Internet Directory Server process. This could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments where directory services are heavily utilized. Organizations with Oracle Internet Directory Server installations face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where these servers are exposed to untrusted networks or where the server processes sensitive directory information for authentication and authorization purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0975 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Internet Directory Server installations with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to directory services, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious LDAP traffic patterns, and consider disabling unnecessary LDAP features or services that are not required for business operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to remote code execution. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services to gain initial access or escalate privileges within target environments.