CVE-2002-2333 in KDE
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in konqueror in KDE 2.1 through 3.0 and 3.0.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an IMG tag with large width and height attributes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2333 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Konqueror web browser component of the KDE desktop environment. This issue affects versions ranging from KDE 2.1 through 3.0 and specifically 3.0.2, making it a significant concern for users of these older KDE distributions. The vulnerability manifests when Konqueror processes HTML content containing an IMG tag with excessively large width and height attributes, creating a scenario where memory allocation fails to properly handle the oversized parameters.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of image dimensions within the browser's rendering engine. When Konqueror encounters an IMG tag with width and height attributes set to extremely large values, the application fails to validate these parameters adequately before attempting to allocate memory for the image rendering process. This lack of input sanitization creates a condition where the buffer allocated for image processing becomes insufficient to accommodate the specified dimensions, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application instability. The flaw operates at the intersection of improper input validation and memory management, aligning with CWE-121 which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute successful denial of service attacks against affected systems. The attack vector requires only that a malicious web page be loaded within Konqueror, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. The resulting crash effectively renders the browser unusable until manual restart, disrupting user productivity and potentially creating security concerns in environments where browser stability is critical. This vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly benign HTML elements can be exploited to compromise system availability, falling under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation in web browser implementations. Organizations running affected KDE versions should prioritize immediate mitigation through system updates or patches provided by KDE developers. Additionally, implementing network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious content and educating users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of robust security testing for web rendering components and highlights the critical need for proper buffer size validation in all memory-intensive operations. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual browser crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.