CVE-2002-0894 in ServletExec ISAPI
Summary
by MITRE
NewAtlanta ServletExec ISAPI 4.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via (1) a request for a long .jsp file, or (2) a long URL sent directly to com.newatlanta.servletexec.JSP10Servlet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0894 affects NewAtlanta ServletExec ISAPI 4.1, a web application server component that processes java server pages. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability manifests when the affected servlet processes requests containing excessively long file paths or URLs, specifically targeting the com.newatlanta.servletexec.JSP10Servlet component. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the servlet implementation, allowing maliciously crafted requests to overwhelm the system's memory allocation and trigger unexpected termination.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests that contain either extremely long .jsp file references or excessively long URLs directly to the vulnerable JSP10Servlet endpoint. When the servlet attempts to process these inputs without proper boundary checks, it encounters memory allocation failures that result in application crashes. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability specifically targets memory management flaws in the ISAPI filter implementation where input data is not properly sanitized before processing.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant availability risk for systems running the affected ServletExec ISAPI version. Remote attackers can reliably cause system crashes through simple HTTP request manipulation, potentially leading to complete service disruption. The attack requires no authentication or specialized privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the vulnerable system. This denial of service condition affects the web application server's ability to process legitimate requests and can be used as part of larger attack campaigns to disable targeted services.
The vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in input validation practices within legacy web application servers. Organizations running affected systems should immediately implement mitigations including patching to newer versions of ServletExec, implementing web application firewalls to filter suspicious requests, and configuring input length restrictions on URL and file path parameters. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1595.001, involving network scanning techniques that may be used to identify vulnerable systems. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to handle service disruption events effectively.