CVE-2002-1154 in Analog
Summary
by MITRE
anlgform.pl in Analog before 5.23 does not restrict access to the PROGRESSFREQ progress update command, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (disk consumption) by using the command to report updates more frequently and fill the web server error log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1154 affects Analog software versions prior to 5.23, specifically targeting the anlgform.pl script which handles various form processing functionalities. This issue represents a classic access control flaw that allows unauthorized users to exploit a legitimate system command for malicious purposes. The vulnerability resides in the PROGRESSFREQ progress update command implementation, which lacks proper authorization checks to verify whether incoming requests originate from legitimate sources or unauthorized remote attackers.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation and access control mechanisms within the analog form processing script. When remote attackers execute the PROGRESSFREQ command without appropriate restrictions, they can trigger excessive logging activities that rapidly consume available disk space. This occurs because the system logs each progress update without rate limiting or authentication verification, creating a scenario where malicious actors can flood the web server error logs with repeated progress notifications. The vulnerability essentially transforms a legitimate diagnostic feature into a vector for resource exhaustion attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service condition that affects system availability and resource management. The rapid filling of web server error logs can quickly consume available disk space, potentially leading to complete system unavailability. This type of attack specifically targets storage resources rather than computational resources, making it particularly insidious as it can occur silently while consuming system resources that are often overlooked in traditional security monitoring. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect other system functions that depend on available disk space for normal operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. This classification reflects the core problem of insufficient authorization checks that allow unauthorized access to privileged system functions. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves network denial of service attacks that consume network resources. The attack vector specifically targets the logging infrastructure of the web server, which represents a critical system component that requires continuous availability for proper system operation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper access controls and rate limiting mechanisms for all system commands within the analog software. System administrators should immediately upgrade to Analog version 5.23 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper authentication checks and access restriction implementations. Network-level controls including firewall rules that limit access to the anlgform.pl script and implementing rate limiting for logging activities can provide additional protection. Regular monitoring of disk space usage and log file sizes should be implemented to detect anomalous patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include reviewing and restricting access to system commands that are not essential for public-facing interfaces.