CVE-2002-1418 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the interpreter for Novell NetBasic Scripting Server (NSN) for Netware 5.1 and 6, and Novell Small Business Suite 5.1 and 6, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (ABEND) via a long module name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1418 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Novell NetBasic Scripting Server interpreter component that affects Netware 5.1 and 6 operating systems along with the Novell Small Business Suite versions 5.1 and 6. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the scripting server's module name handling functionality, where the system fails to properly constrain the length of module names passed to the interpreter. The flaw manifests when a remote attacker submits a specially crafted module name that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing the interpreter to overwrite adjacent memory regions and ultimately resulting in system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The Novell NetBasic Scripting Server processes module names without enforcing strict length limitations, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled input can exceed the predetermined buffer capacity. This specific implementation flaw occurs during the module loading phase when the interpreter attempts to store the module name in a fixed-size buffer, typically insufficient to accommodate maliciously long input strings. The buffer overflow condition leads to memory corruption that can trigger unpredictable behavior within the application's execution context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the resulting system abend can compromise the availability of critical network services and potentially provide attackers with opportunities for further exploitation. When the interpreter encounters the oversized module name, the buffer overflow corrupts the program's execution stack, leading to application termination or system crash. This denial of service condition can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where Netware servers provide essential network services and applications depend on continuous availability. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the scripting server, potentially disrupting business operations and creating opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access to network resources through system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1418 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Novell to address the underlying buffer overflow implementation flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks, following ATT&CK technique T1190 for protecting against remote exploitation. Additionally, input validation mechanisms should be strengthened at the application level to enforce strict module name length limits and implement proper bounds checking before processing user-supplied data. System administrators should monitor for unusual network traffic patterns or authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive logging of module loading activities to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability. The remediation approach should also include disabling unnecessary scripting capabilities where possible and implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this specific buffer overflow condition.