CVE-2002-1532 in Superscout Email Filter
Summary
by MITRE
The administrative web interface (STEMWADM) for SurfControl SuperScout Email Filter allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource exhaustion) via a GET request without the terminating /r/n/r/n (CRLF) sequence, which causes the interface to wait for the sequence and blocks other users from accessing it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1532 represents a classic resource exhaustion attack targeting the administrative web interface of SurfControl SuperScout Email Filter. This issue specifically affects the STEMWADM component that provides administrative access to the email filtering system. The flaw manifests when remote attackers send malformed GET requests that lack the required terminating CRLF sequence, creating a condition where the web server waits indefinitely for the expected sequence to arrive. This behavior creates a resource starvation scenario that fundamentally undermines the availability of the administrative interface.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of HTTP request termination sequences within the web server implementation. When a GET request is received without the proper /r/n/r/n (CRLF) termination, the server enters a waiting state expecting the complete request structure. This waiting state consumes system resources including memory and processing capacity, effectively creating a denial of service condition. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and request parsing mechanisms that fail to implement proper timeouts or request completion checks. From a cybersecurity perspective, this issue falls under CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion" in software systems, specifically targeting the failure to properly handle resource allocation and deallocation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the overall security posture of email filtering infrastructure. When the administrative interface becomes unavailable, legitimate administrators cannot access critical configuration settings, monitor system status, or respond to security incidents. This creates a window where malicious actors can exploit other vulnerabilities or simply maintain persistent denial of service conditions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical skill to execute, making it accessible to attackers with basic network knowledge. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "Toggle Service State" and "Resource Exhaustion" as methods used to disrupt services, particularly in network infrastructure components.
Organizations implementing SurfControl SuperScout Email Filter systems face significant operational risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The administrative interface typically requires constant availability for security monitoring, policy enforcement, and system maintenance activities. When this interface becomes unresponsive due to resource exhaustion, it creates cascading effects that can impact email delivery, security policy enforcement, and overall network security operations. The vulnerability also represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks, as attackers may use the initial denial of service to create cover for other malicious activities or to force administrators into making security compromises during the recovery process. Effective mitigation requires implementing proper timeout mechanisms, request validation, and resource management controls to prevent the accumulation of unprocessed requests that can consume system resources indefinitely.