CVE-2002-1655 in Netscape
Summary
by MITRE
The Web Publishing feature in Netscape Enterprise Server 3.x and iPlanet Web Server 4.x allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a wp-html-rend request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1655 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the web publishing capabilities of legacy web server software. This issue affects Netscape Enterprise Server version 3.x and iPlanet Web Server version 4.x, systems that were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s when web infrastructure was rapidly evolving. The vulnerability specifically targets the Web Publishing feature which is responsible for rendering html content and managing web publishing workflows. The flaw manifests when a specially crafted wp-html-rend request is submitted to the affected servers, causing them to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of denial of service attacks that can severely impact business operations and service availability. The technical nature of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in web server components can result in complete system failures.
The underlying technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves improper input validation within the wp-html-rend request handler. When the web server receives a malformed or maliciously constructed request, the processing logic fails to properly handle the input parameters, leading to memory corruption or stack overflow conditions. This particular flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue, which is commonly categorized under CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific HTTP requests that trigger the vulnerable code path in the web server's html rendering engine. The lack of proper bounds checking in the request processing logic means that attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory locations, causing the server process to terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1655 extends beyond simple server crashes to encompass significant business disruption and potential financial losses. Organizations relying on these legacy web servers for critical business applications would experience immediate service degradation or complete outages when exploited. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, specifically targeting the availability of web services that many enterprises depend upon for customer interactions, internal communications, and business operations. This type of attack can be particularly damaging in environments where web servers handle transactional data or serve as primary access points for enterprise applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication and can be executed from any network location, making it a preferred method for attackers seeking to disrupt services without detection. From an attack methodology perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Denial of Service' tactic, where adversaries aim to make systems or resources unavailable to intended users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and systematic approach to protect affected systems. The most effective immediate solution involves applying vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the specific memory handling issues in the web publishing feature. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as firewall rules and access control lists to restrict access to the vulnerable wp-html-rend endpoint until proper patches are deployed. Network segmentation and monitoring systems can help detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application-level firewalls or web application firewalls can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable components. System administrators should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected legacy systems and ensure proper patch management processes are in place. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to production systems to prevent unintended service disruptions. Organizations should also consider migrating away from unsupported legacy software platforms to more modern, secure web server implementations that receive regular security updates and have better vulnerability management processes in place.