CVE-2003-0400 in Content Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Vignette StoryServer and Vignette V/5 does not properly calculate the size of text variables, which causes Vignette to return unauthorized portions of memory, as demonstrated using the "-->" string in a CookieName argument to the login template, referred to as a "memory leak" in some reports.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0400 affects Vignette StoryServer and Vignette V/5 content management systems, representing a critical memory handling flaw that exposes sensitive data through improper text variable size calculation. This issue stems from the application's failure to accurately determine the boundaries of text variables during processing, leading to buffer overflows that inadvertently reveal unauthorized memory contents. The vulnerability manifests specifically when processing cookie names through the login template, where the specially crafted "-->" string triggers the memory leak behavior. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions that can result in information disclosure, making it particularly dangerous for systems handling sensitive user data and authentication information. The flaw represents a fundamental weakness in input validation and memory management within the Vignette application framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's text processing routines that fail to properly validate or constrain the size of input strings before processing them within memory buffers. When the login template receives a cookie name argument containing the "-->" sequence, the system's text variable size calculation mechanism becomes compromised, causing the application to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. This memory leak exposes portions of the application's memory space that may contain sensitive information such as user credentials, session tokens, or system configuration data. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web-based content management systems that rely on proper input sanitization. The issue demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices and highlights the importance of proper buffer management and input validation in preventing information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed memory contents could potentially contain session identifiers, database connection strings, or other sensitive application data that could be leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges or conduct further exploitation. This memory leak vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to gather intelligence about the target system, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking or credential theft. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can potentially access sensitive information without requiring physical access to the system or prior authentication. Organizations running Vignette StoryServer or Vignette V/5 systems are at risk of data breaches and compliance violations, as this vulnerability could expose Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and other confidential data stored in the application's memory space. The impact is particularly severe given that this vulnerability affects core authentication functionality, potentially compromising the entire security posture of the content management system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation controls and memory management improvements within the Vignette application framework. Organizations should apply vendor patches or hotfixes as soon as they become available, as these typically address the underlying buffer overflow conditions through proper size calculations and memory boundary checks. Input sanitization measures should be implemented to filter or reject potentially malicious strings before they reach the vulnerable processing routines, particularly those containing special characters like the "-->" sequence that trigger the memory leak. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual patterns of memory access or data retrieval that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security hardening practices including disabling unnecessary features, restricting access to authentication endpoints, and implementing proper logging and alerting mechanisms around authentication activities should be deployed. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-122 Buffer Overflow and CWE-200 Information Disclosure categories, and represents a technique that could be categorized under ATT&CK tactics including T1083 File and Directory Discovery and T1213 Data from Information Repositories, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls to prevent unauthorized memory access and information disclosure.