CVE-2001-1337 in IPC@CHIP Embedded-Webserver
Summary
by MITRE
Beck IPC GmbH IPC@CHIP Embedded-Webserver allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1337 affects the Beck IPC GmbH IPC@CHIP Embedded-Webserver, a product designed for embedded systems that provides web server functionality. This particular flaw represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits the web server's handling of HTTP requests. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the embedded web server implementation, specifically when processing HTTP requests of excessive length. The affected system fails to properly sanitize or limit the size of incoming HTTP request data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes improper restriction of operations within a limited error handling routine, and more specifically relates to CWE-400, which covers unchecked resource consumption. The flaw occurs at the protocol level where the embedded web server does not implement adequate bounds checking on incoming HTTP request data. When a remote attacker sends an HTTP request containing an excessive amount of data, the web server processes this malformed input without proper validation, leading to resource exhaustion or memory corruption that ultimately results in service disruption. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in embedded systems because such devices often lack robust error handling mechanisms and may not have adequate monitoring or recovery capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect the entire operational continuity of systems relying on the IPC@CHIP platform. In industrial control environments where these embedded web servers may be used for monitoring and control functions, a successful exploitation could lead to complete system unavailability, potentially affecting production processes, safety systems, or critical infrastructure operations. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the local network perimeter without requiring physical access or authentication credentials, making it particularly attractive for attackers seeking to disrupt operations. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk in environments where embedded systems are deployed without proper network segmentation or intrusion detection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and resource limiting measures within the embedded web server configuration. Network administrators should consider implementing rate limiting and request size restrictions at network boundaries to prevent malformed requests from reaching the vulnerable system. The most effective long-term solution involves updating to patched versions of the IPC@CHIP Embedded-Webserver software that properly validate HTTP request lengths and implement appropriate resource management controls. Additionally, system administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify and block long HTTP request patterns. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1566.001 for phishing with social engineering, as attackers may use this vulnerability as part of broader attack campaigns targeting industrial control systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities and ensure that critical systems are isolated from potentially compromised network segments.