CVE-2002-1166 in WN Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in John Franks WN Server 1.18.2 through 2.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1166 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the John Franks WN Server software version 1.18.2 through 2.0.0. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121 which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The WN Server, a web server implementation, fails to properly validate the length of incoming GET requests, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system control.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious GET request containing an excessive amount of data that exceeds the server's allocated buffer space. When the web server processes this oversized request, the overflow corrupts adjacent memory locations, potentially overwriting critical program execution data such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can be systematically manipulated to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected by the attacker, thereby enabling arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system. The vulnerability specifically affects the HTTP GET request handling mechanism, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browser interactions without requiring special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation allows unauthorized individuals to execute commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to full system takeover, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. Organizations running affected WN Server versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where web servers are accessible to untrusted users or external networks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated using readily available tools, making it attractive to both skilled and unskilled attackers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1166 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor. Organizations must prioritize upgrading to versions of the WN Server that contain proper input validation and buffer management controls. Additionally, network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor and block unusually long HTTP GET requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. Input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including web server configuration, application-level filtering, and network security controls. The implementation of address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts, though these are not complete solutions. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems and ensure comprehensive network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in web server implementations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through buffer overflow vulnerabilities.