CVE-2002-1043 in Popcorn
Summary
by MITRE
Ultrafunk Popcorn 1.20 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a malformed Subject ("\t\t").
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1043 affects Ultrafunk Popcorn version 1.20 and represents a classic denial of service flaw that exploits improper input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of email message headers, particularly the Subject field, where malformed input can trigger application instability. The attack vector involves sending an email message containing a malformed Subject header with tab characters that are not properly sanitized or validated by the application's parsing routines. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of input validation weaknesses that have been consistently documented in cybersecurity literature and represents a fundamental security gap in how the application processes external data inputs.
The technical flaw manifests when the Popcorn application attempts to parse an email message containing a Subject header with tab characters that do not conform to standard email formatting conventions. The application's email parser lacks proper boundary checking and input sanitization, causing the software to crash or become unresponsive when encountering these malformed characters. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices and buffer overflows, as well as CWE-20, which covers input validation issues. The vulnerability exploits the application's failure to implement robust error handling for malformed email headers, creating a condition where legitimate network traffic can be used to disrupt service availability. The specific use of tab characters in the Subject field suggests that the application may be interpreting these characters in unexpected ways during header processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to systematically degrade service availability. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause repeated application crashes without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where email services are critical. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad and could be used as part of broader denial of service campaigns. From an attacker perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that requires minimal technical expertise to exploit. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation gaps can create significant operational risks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1043 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the email parsing routines. Organizations should ensure that all email headers, particularly the Subject field, are properly validated against standard email format specifications before processing. This includes implementing strict character set validation and rejecting malformed input rather than attempting to process it. The fix should involve updating the application's email parsing logic to handle edge cases gracefully and implement proper error recovery mechanisms. Additionally, network-level filtering solutions can be deployed to sanitize email traffic before it reaches the vulnerable application. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting for unusual application crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following established guidelines for input validation and error handling that are consistent with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.