CVE-2003-0562 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the CGI2PERL.NLM PERL handler in Novell Netware 5.1 and 6.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (ABEND) via a long input string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0562 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the CGI2PERL.NLM PERL handler component of Novell Netware operating systems version 5.1 and 6.0. This vulnerability resides in the network layer processing functionality that handles perl script execution through the common gateway interface protocol. The flaw specifically manifests when the system receives input data exceeding the allocated buffer space, creating a condition where memory corruption occurs. The affected component processes web requests through the perl handler and fails to properly validate input length before processing, leading to an exploitable condition that can be remotely triggered by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the CGI2PERL.NLM module. When a remote attacker submits a specially crafted request containing an excessively long input string, the system's memory management fails to enforce bounds checking on the data buffer. This allows the malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations, ultimately causing the system to crash and generate an abend condition. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the affected system. The flaw directly corresponds to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the abend condition can result in complete system unavailability and potential data loss. Organizations relying on Novell Netware 5.1 or 6.0 for web services or network applications face significant risk of service disruption, particularly in environments where continuous uptime is critical. The vulnerability affects the core web serving capabilities of the operating system, potentially impacting business operations and user access to network resources. Attackers can exploit this condition repeatedly, leading to sustained service degradation or complete system outages that may require manual intervention and system restarts to restore normal operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems through Novell's official security updates. Organizations must also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious input patterns and implementing input validation at network boundaries. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 technique for legitimate credentials and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may leverage this condition to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. System administrators should also consider implementing application firewalls and monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar conditions within the network infrastructure and ensure comprehensive protection against similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities.