CVE-2003-0506 in NetMeeting
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft NetMeeting 3.01 2000 before SP4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (shutdown of NetMeeting conference) via malformed packets, as demonstrated via the chat conversation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2018
Microsoft NetMeeting 3.01 for Windows 2000 prior to Service Pack 4 contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against active conference sessions. This vulnerability specifically targets the chat conversation functionality within NetMeeting conferences, where malformed network packets can be crafted to disrupt or terminate ongoing communications. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and packet processing mechanisms within the application's network handling code, which fails to properly sanitize incoming data before processing chat messages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted malformed packets to the NetMeeting conference server, causing the application to crash or shut down the entire conference session, thereby preventing legitimate users from participating in the meeting. This vulnerability represents a classic example of a buffer overflow or input validation flaw that falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite memory regions and cause application instability. The impact extends beyond simple disruption as it can compromise the integrity of collaborative meetings and potentially affect business continuity when critical conferences are interrupted. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or elevated privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can establish network connectivity to the affected system. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a privilege escalation and denial of service technique under the T1499 category, where adversaries can disrupt services without requiring administrative access. The vulnerability affects all versions of NetMeeting 3.01 running on Windows 2000 systems that have not been updated with Service Pack 4, leaving organizations with legacy systems particularly exposed. The attack vector is primarily network-based, allowing remote exploitation from any location where the conference server is accessible. Microsoft addressed this issue through Service Pack 4, which included enhanced packet validation routines and improved error handling for chat message processing. Organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to the latest service pack and consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of NetMeeting services to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual packet patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network applications and highlights the need for regular security updates to protect against known exploits that can compromise application availability and user collaboration capabilities.