CVE-2003-0595 in Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in WiTango Application Server and Tango 2000 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long cookie to Witango_UserReference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0595 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting the WiTango Application Server and Tango 2000 software products. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the cookie handling mechanism, specifically when processing the Witango_UserReference parameter. The flaw exists at the application layer where user-supplied data is directly copied into a fixed-size buffer without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can accommodate, leading to memory corruption that can be manipulated for malicious purposes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially formatted cookie containing an excessively long Witango_UserReference value that exceeds the allocated buffer space. When the vulnerable application processes this malformed cookie, the overflow corrupts adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data, potentially allowing an attacker to redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the buffer. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain code execution, and specifically maps to the broader category of remote code execution attacks that leverage memory corruption flaws. The attack vector is entirely remote, requiring no local system access or user interaction beyond sending the malicious cookie to the target server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and encompasses potential complete system compromise, unauthorized data access, and service disruption. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected application server process, potentially leading to full system control. Organizations running vulnerable versions of WiTango Application Server or Tango 2000 face significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and persistent access to their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of all data processed by the affected servers, as well as potentially compromising the availability of services through system crashes or unauthorized access. This type of flaw represents a critical security gap that could be exploited by automated scanning tools to identify and compromise multiple systems simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0595 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with vendor-provided security updates. Organizations must implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent overly long cookie values from being processed, including implementing length limits and sanitization routines for all user-supplied data. Network-level protections such as intrusion prevention systems and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious cookie content patterns. Additionally, system hardening practices including disabling unnecessary services, implementing proper access controls, and conducting regular security assessments are essential. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, which aligns with security standards such as those recommended in the OWASP Top Ten and the CERT/CC secure coding guidelines. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other applications and systems, as this type of buffer overflow vulnerability remains a prevalent issue in legacy software applications.