CVE-2002-0335 in Worldgroup Lite Personal Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Galacticomm Worldgroup web server 3.20 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service, and possibly execute arbitrary code, via a long HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0335 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Galacticomm Worldgroup web server version 3.20 and earlier implementations. This security weakness manifests specifically during the processing of HTTP GET requests, where the server fails to properly validate input length before attempting to store received data in allocated memory buffers. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that permit malicious actors to craft excessively long HTTP GET requests that exceed the predetermined buffer size limits. Such buffer overflow conditions create opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to disrupt normal server operations or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution within the server environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established patterns for buffer overflow attacks where attackers construct specially crafted HTTP GET requests containing oversized payload data. When the web server processes these malformed requests, the excessive input causes data to overflow into adjacent memory regions, potentially overwriting critical program execution structures such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable program behavior including application crashes, system instability, and in more sophisticated attack scenarios, the possibility of executing malicious code with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where the web server operates with elevated privileges, amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on the affected Galacticomm Worldgroup web server implementations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit the flaw without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web services. The potential for denial of service attacks can result in complete service interruption, impacting business operations and potentially causing financial losses. Additionally, the possibility of arbitrary code execution creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects a broad range of web applications that depend on this specific web server implementation for content delivery and service provision.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0335 should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches or updates to the Galacticomm Worldgroup web server software. Organizations should implement network-level protections including intrusion detection systems and firewall rules that can identify and block suspicious HTTP GET requests containing unusually long parameter strings. Input validation measures should be deployed at multiple layers of the network infrastructure to filter out malformed requests before they reach the vulnerable web server. The implementation of application-level security controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of traffic or service disruptions that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software and ensure complete remediation across all network assets. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to stack and heap-based buffer overflows, and represents a technique consistent with ATT&CK tactics involving command and control communications and privilege escalation through service exploitation.