CVE-2002-1032 in KF Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in KeyFocus (KF) web server 1.0.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1032 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the KeyFocus web server version 1.0.5 and earlier releases. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the server's HTTP header processing functionality, creating a security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the server encounters malformed HTTP headers during request processing, leading to unpredictable behavior that can result in system instability or complete service disruption.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs due to improper bounds checking during the parsing of HTTP headers, which allows attackers to craft specially formatted header values that exceed the allocated buffer space. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to include arbitrary code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for web server environments where attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on KeyFocus web server implementations, as remote attackers can leverage the flaw to disrupt legitimate service operations or escalate privileges to execute malicious code on affected systems. The nature of the vulnerability means that any client connecting to a vulnerable server and sending malformed HTTP headers can trigger the buffer overflow condition, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools. The potential for remote code execution through this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through web server vulnerabilities, and T1499, which addresses network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1032 should prioritize immediate patching of affected KeyFocus server installations to version 1.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable web servers to untrusted networks, while also deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed HTTP header patterns. Additionally, implementing input validation mechanisms and regular security assessments of web server configurations will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in server-side applications, particularly those handling network-based communications where attackers can craft malicious payloads to exploit memory corruption weaknesses.