CVE-2002-1566 in netris
Summary
by MITRE
netris 0.5, and possibly other versions before 0.52, when running with the -w (wait) option, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long string to port 9284.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1566 affects netris version 0.5 and potentially earlier versions up to 0.52 when operating with the -w (wait) command line option. This represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application processes incoming data on port 9284 without proper input validation or length checking mechanisms. The flaw manifests specifically when remote attackers submit excessively long string inputs to the designated network port, causing the application to crash and resulting in a denial of service condition that disrupts legitimate service operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the network input processing routines of the netris application. When the -w option is enabled, the software enters a listening state that accepts connections on port 9284, but fails to implement proper string length validation before processing incoming data. This absence of input sanitization creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious payloads containing oversized strings that exceed the allocated buffer space, leading to stack corruption and subsequent application termination. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a fundamental flaw in input handling that violates secure coding practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise system availability and reliability within network infrastructure environments. Organizations relying on netris for network monitoring or traffic analysis could experience significant downtime when attackers exploit this weakness, particularly in scenarios where the application serves as a critical component in network security operations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from any location without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network services are exposed to external threats. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of implementing proper network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1566 should focus on immediate version upgrades to netris 0.52 or later, which presumably contain fixes for the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement network level protections such as firewall rules that restrict access to port 9284 to trusted sources only, while also considering the temporary disabling of the -w option if its functionality is not critical to operations. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected applications that may share similar input processing flaws. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in functionality. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and proper bounds checking in network applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks and highlighting the need for robust application security practices throughout the software development lifecycle.