CVE-2002-2025 in Lotus Domino Server
Summary
by MITRE
Lotus Domino server 5.0.9a and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by exhausting the number of working threads via a large number of HTTP requests for (1) an MS-DOS device name and (2) an MS-DOS device name with a large number of characters appended to the device name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2025 affects Lotus Domino server versions 5.0.9a and earlier, presenting a significant denial of service risk that stems from improper handling of HTTP requests containing MS-DOS device names. This flaw represents a classic resource exhaustion attack vector that exploits the server's thread management mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's ability to process concurrent connections and requests, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Domino servers handle substantial web traffic. The issue manifests when attackers send carefully crafted HTTP requests that contain MS-DOS device names, which the server attempts to process through its threading model, ultimately leading to thread exhaustion and service disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the server's handling of specific file path requests that contain MS-DOS device names such as CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, and COM1 through COM9. When these device names are appended with a large number of characters, the server's thread pool becomes overwhelmed as it attempts to process each request through its internal resource management systems. The flaw lies in the server's insufficient validation and resource allocation mechanisms for handling these specific request patterns. According to CWE-400, this vulnerability maps directly to resource exhaustion conditions where the system's thread management is overwhelmed by malicious input patterns. The attack mechanism relies on the server's inability to efficiently handle concurrent requests that trigger its internal processing of device name validation, causing legitimate threads to become occupied with processing invalid requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render the Domino server completely unresponsive to legitimate client requests. Attackers can maintain the denial of service condition for extended periods by continuously sending these malformed requests, potentially causing cascading effects throughout the organization's email and collaboration infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Domino servers are configured to handle HTTP traffic, making web-based applications and services vulnerable to this attack vector. Organizations relying on Lotus Domino for business-critical applications face significant operational risks, as the attack can be executed with minimal resources and technical expertise, making it an attractive option for malicious actors seeking to disrupt business operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks that consume system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and resource limiting mechanisms within the Domino server configuration. Administrators should consider applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address this specific thread exhaustion issue, as the vulnerability was resolved in later versions of the Lotus Domino server software. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and connection throttling can help reduce the impact of such attacks by limiting the number of concurrent requests that can be processed from a single source. Additionally, implementing proper firewall rules and access control lists can help restrict access to the affected HTTP endpoints and reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious HTTP request patterns containing device names, providing early warning of potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring mechanisms will help track the occurrence of such attacks and provide valuable forensic data for incident response activities.