CVE-2002-1283 in Emframe
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Novell iManager (eMFrame) before 1.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via an authentication request with a long Distinguished Name (DN) attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1283 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Novell iManager's eMFrame component prior to version 1.5. This issue specifically targets the authentication subsystem where the software fails to properly validate the length of Distinguished Name attributes submitted during the authentication process. The buffer overflow occurs when an attacker crafts an authentication request containing an excessively long DN attribute that exceeds the allocated buffer space within the application's memory management structure.
This technical flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of buffer overflow vulnerabilities, specifically classified as CWE-121 which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability exists in the input validation mechanisms of the eMFrame component, where the application does not implement proper bounds checking on incoming DN attribute values. When the system attempts to process an authentication request with an oversized DN, the excessive data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program execution data or causing the application to terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to disrupt legitimate service availability within Novell iManager environments. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the application is accessible over the internet. The denial of service condition affects the core authentication functionality of the iManager system, preventing legitimate users from accessing managed resources and potentially disrupting business operations that depend on Novell's directory services.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where attackers leverage software flaws to compromise system availability and potentially gain unauthorized access to directory services. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in enterprise applications, particularly those handling authentication and directory services. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to version 1.5 or later of Novell iManager, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, defensive measures should include input length validation at network boundaries and regular security assessments of directory services to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems that may be vulnerable to similar buffer overflow attacks.