CVE-2002-0945 in Devwex
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in SeaNox Devwex allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0945 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the SeaNox Devwex web server implementation that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This issue manifests when the affected web server processes HTTP GET requests containing excessively long parameter strings, creating a condition where memory boundaries are exceeded and potentially allowing malicious actors to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability resides in the server's handling of input validation for HTTP requests, specifically within the parsing mechanism that fails to properly constrain the length of received data before processing.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input sanitization and memory management within the SeaNox Devwex software architecture. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTTP GET request with an abnormally long string parameter, the web server's internal buffer allocated for processing this data becomes overwhelmed. This condition typically occurs in the request parsing layer where the application assumes a maximum parameter length without implementing proper bounds checking. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows depending on the specific memory allocation patterns used by the vulnerable implementation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, presenting a severe risk to affected systems. When the buffer overflow occurs, the web server process typically crashes and terminates, resulting in immediate service disruption that can be exploited for denial of service attacks against critical infrastructure. However, the more concerning aspect arises when the overflow corrupts memory in such a way that allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the server process context. This capability could enable attackers to gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or use as a pivot point for attacking other network resources. The vulnerability affects any system running the vulnerable SeaNox Devwex software version, particularly impacting web servers that are exposed to the internet and handle HTTP traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0945 require immediate implementation of multiple defensive measures to protect against exploitation attempts. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor patches or updates that address the buffer overflow condition in the SeaNox Devwex software, as these typically include proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Network-based mitigations should include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block unusually long HTTP GET requests before they reach the vulnerable server. Additionally, configuring the web server to enforce strict parameter length limits and implementing input validation rules that reject requests exceeding predetermined thresholds can prevent exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous HTTP request patterns and automated response mechanisms that can block suspicious traffic. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation through remote code execution, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on legacy web server implementations. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable components within their infrastructure that may share similar buffer overflow characteristics.