CVE-2003-0181 in Lotus Domino Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Lotus Domino Web Server (nhttp.exe) before 6.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a "Fictionary Value Field POST request" as demonstrated using the s_Validation form with a long, unknown parameter name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0181 affects IBM Lotus Domino Web Server versions prior to 6.0.1, specifically targeting the nhttp.exe component responsible for handling web requests. This issue represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits improper input validation mechanisms within the web server's request processing pipeline. The flaw manifests when the server receives a specially crafted POST request containing a malformed parameter name that exceeds expected length limitations, leading to system instability and service disruption. The vulnerability was demonstrated using the s_Validation form, which serves as a test vector to trigger the exploitable condition through what researchers termed a "Fictionary Value Field POST request" that leverages the server's inadequate handling of extended parameter names.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and input validation within the Lotus Domino Web Server's HTTP request parsing logic. When the nhttp.exe process encounters a POST request with an unusually long parameter name, the server's internal buffer management fails to properly handle the excessive data length, resulting in memory corruption or stack overflow conditions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes insufficient checking of buffer limits, and represents a variant of buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited to cause system crashes or unresponsive behavior. The attack vector specifically targets the server's form processing capabilities, where the s_Validation form acts as a trigger mechanism to expose the underlying implementation flaw in parameter name handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical business applications hosted on the Lotus Domino platform. Organizations relying on Domino Web Server for email services, web applications, and collaboration tools face significant risk from this vulnerability, as attackers can systematically exhaust server resources and cause prolonged outages. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries need no local access or authentication credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible Domino servers. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, where the attack specifically targets web application availability through malformed request handling.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0181 focus primarily on upgrading to Lotus Domino Web Server version 6.0.1 or later, which includes fixed implementations of input validation and buffer management. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as rate limiting and request filtering to reduce the effectiveness of potential attacks. Additionally, configuring the server to enforce stricter parameter length limits and implementing proper input sanitization can provide defense-in-depth measures. System administrators should monitor for unusual traffic patterns and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed POST requests targeting this specific vulnerability pattern. The fix addresses the core issue by implementing proper bounds checking on parameter names and ensuring that the server gracefully handles extended input values rather than crashing or becoming unresponsive.