CVE-2002-0578 in 4D Webserver
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in 4D WebServer 6.7.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request with Basic Authentication containing a long (1) user name or (2) password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0578 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the 4D WebServer version 6.7.3 that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This issue specifically targets the web server's handling of HTTP requests that include Basic Authentication credentials, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the authentication process and potentially gain unauthorized access to the system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly constrain the length of user names and passwords submitted through HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the web server processes authentication data without enforcing strict boundaries on the length of credentials provided by clients. When an attacker submits an HTTP request containing a username or password that exceeds the allocated buffer space, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical system structures. This buffer overflow condition can manifest in two primary ways depending on the specific attack vector employed by the malicious actor. The first scenario involves crafting an excessively long username that triggers the overflow, while the second scenario utilizes an overly long password to achieve the same disruptive effect.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary code execution on affected systems. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can disrupt the normal execution flow of the web server process, allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the server environment. This capability transforms what might initially appear as a denial of service vulnerability into a more severe security threat that could compromise entire server infrastructures and potentially provide attackers with persistent access to underlying network resources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe string handling practices that have been documented extensively in security literature. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1190, which covers exploits for execution through web shell or similar attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates how legacy web server implementations often lack modern security controls that would prevent such memory corruption scenarios from occurring.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of 4D WebServer, implementing input validation controls that limit credential length, and deploying network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems that can detect anomalous authentication request patterns. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms to prevent automated exploitation attempts and establish monitoring procedures that can identify unusual authentication traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential compromise indicators and ensure that all web server components are properly updated to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the environment.