CVE-2002-0291 in Dinos Webserver
Summary
by MITRE
Dino s Webserver 1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) and possibly execute arbitrary code via several large HTTP requests within a short time.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0291 affects Dino Webserver version 1.2 and represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited to compromise system availability and potentially execute malicious code. This vulnerability manifests through the server's inadequate handling of HTTP requests, specifically when multiple large requests are submitted in rapid succession. The issue stems from the web server's failure to properly validate and process incoming request sizes, creating a pathway for attackers to overwhelm system resources through carefully crafted attack vectors.
The technical flaw in Dino Webserver 1.2 resides in its request processing mechanism which does not implement proper rate limiting or resource allocation controls for incoming HTTP traffic. When attackers submit several large HTTP requests within a short time window, the server's memory management and CPU processing capabilities become overwhelmed, leading to excessive CPU consumption that can effectively render the service unavailable. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes unchecked resource consumption as a significant vulnerability pattern that can lead to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution suggests that the resource exhaustion may also create opportunities for code injection or exploitation of memory corruption issues within the server's processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable complete system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to consume system resources continuously, making the web server unavailable to legitimate users while simultaneously creating conditions that might allow for code execution. This dual threat capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where web servers handle critical business operations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services or gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations running Dino Webserver 1.2 are at significant risk of experiencing service outages that can impact business continuity and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0291 should focus on immediate patching of the affected web server software, as well as implementing network-level protections such as rate limiting and connection throttling. Organizations should deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implement proper access controls to limit exposure to unauthorized users. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices such as input validation, resource monitoring, and regular security assessments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving resource exhaustion and privilege escalation, and organizations should consider implementing defensive measures against these attack patterns. Additionally, system administrators should establish proper monitoring protocols to detect unusual CPU usage patterns and implement automated response mechanisms that can limit the impact of such attacks while maintaining service availability for legitimate users.