CVE-2002-0966 in 4D Webserver
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in 4D web server 6.7.3 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0966 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the 4D web server version 6.7.3 that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This vulnerability specifically affects the HTTP request handling mechanism of the web server software, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures through crafted input sequences. The buffer overflow occurs when the server fails to properly validate the length of incoming HTTP requests, allowing an attacker to exceed the allocated memory buffer space and overwrite adjacent memory locations. Such a flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of the application's memory management and creates opportunities for both denial of service conditions and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory boundary checking within the web server's request processing pipeline. When a remote attacker submits an HTTP request containing excessive data, the server's buffer handling routines do not properly enforce size limitations, resulting in memory corruption that can lead to unpredictable behavior. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the HTTP protocol as its attack vector, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing mechanisms without requiring specialized tools or privileged access. According to CWE classification, this represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability categorized under CWE-121, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflows that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on memory allocations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable complete system compromise. A successful exploitation can result in a denial of service condition that renders the web server unavailable to legitimate users, effectively halting business operations and potentially causing financial losses. More critically, the memory corruption aspects of this buffer overflow may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to full system compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and persistent access. Organizations running 4D web server 6.7.3 are particularly at risk as the vulnerability affects core web functionality and can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0966 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected 4D web server software to the latest available version that contains the necessary memory boundary checks and input validation improvements. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the vulnerable web server to untrusted networks and users. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection capabilities can help identify exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls and web application firewalls that can monitor and filter HTTP requests to prevent overly long or malformed inputs from reaching the vulnerable server components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potentially affected systems running older versions of the 4D web server software that may exhibit similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing web applications or services.