CVE-2002-1652 in cgiemail
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in cgicso.c for cgiemail 1.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long query parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1652 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the cgiemail 1.6 web application component, specifically within the cgicso.c source file. This issue manifests when the application processes query parameters submitted through web forms, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The buffer overflow occurs due to insufficient input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the cgiemail implementation, allowing maliciously crafted input to overwrite adjacent memory locations beyond the allocated buffer space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow pattern where an attacker crafts a query parameter exceeding the predetermined buffer size limits. When the cgiemail application processes this oversized parameter, the excessive data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting critical program execution structures including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data. This memory corruption can result in abrupt program termination, causing a denial of service condition, or more severely, allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the web server process.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to web server availability and security integrity. The denial of service aspect immediately compromises service availability, potentially affecting legitimate users while the arbitrary code execution capability opens pathways for complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the web server, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors within the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects systems running cgiemail 1.6 and similar vulnerable web applications, making it particularly concerning for organizations with legacy web infrastructure.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services through buffer overflow attacks. Mitigation strategies include immediate patching of the cgiemail application to version 1.7 or later, which contains the necessary buffer size validation fixes. Additionally, implementing input validation mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments can help prevent exploitation. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices should also be enforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management in web applications, particularly in legacy systems that may not incorporate modern security design principles.