CVE-2002-0386 in Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The administration module for Oracle Web Cache in Oracle9iAS (9i Application Suite) 9.0.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via (1) an HTTP GET request containing a ".." (dot dot) sequence, or (2) a malformed HTTP GET request with a chunked Transfer-Encoding with missing data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0386 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Oracle Web Cache's administration module, specifically affecting Oracle9iAS 9.0.2 installations. This flaw exists in the processing of HTTP requests within the administration interface, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit parsing inconsistencies in the web cache's handling of specially crafted HTTP requests, potentially leading to complete system crashes and service disruption for legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two primary attack patterns that target different aspects of HTTP request processing. The first vector exploits path traversal mechanisms by accepting HTTP GET requests containing ".." sequences that can manipulate the cache's internal path resolution logic. This type of attack maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal vulnerabilities where improper input validation allows attackers to navigate file system paths beyond intended boundaries. The second vector targets the chunked transfer encoding mechanism, where malformed requests with incomplete data chunks cause the administration module to crash during request processing. This approach aligns with CWE-129 Improper Validation of Array Index and CWE-128 Buffer Under-read conditions that occur when systems fail to properly validate or handle incomplete data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by attackers to systematically degrade system availability and potentially gain insights into the underlying system architecture. Remote attackers can leverage these conditions to perform sustained denial of service attacks without requiring authentication or privileged access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments. The administration module being targeted indicates that even management interfaces are susceptible to such attacks, potentially giving attackers the ability to disrupt critical system maintenance operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where attackers specifically target network services to prevent legitimate use.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0386 should focus on input validation and request sanitization within the Oracle Web Cache administration module. Organizations should implement strict validation of HTTP request parameters to prevent path traversal sequences from being processed, while also ensuring proper handling of chunked transfer encoding requests with complete data payloads. The recommended approach includes applying Oracle's official security patches and updates, implementing network-level filtering to block suspicious request patterns, and configuring the administration module with restricted access controls. Additionally, monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous request patterns that match the described attack vectors, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. These measures align with defensive strategies outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-53 controls for input validation and access control.