CVE-2003-0805 in gopherd
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in UMN gopher daemon (gopherd) 2.x and 3.x before 3.0.6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long filename as a result of a LIST command, and (2) the GSisText function, which calculates the view-type.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0805 affects the UMN gopher daemon version 2.x and 3.x prior to 3.0.6, representing a critical security flaw that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks. This gopherd implementation serves as a server for the gopher protocol, which was widely used in the 1990s for information retrieval and distribution. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct buffer overflow conditions that exploit memory corruption in different code paths of the daemon.
The first buffer overflow occurs when processing a LIST command with an excessively long filename, while the second vulnerability resides within the GSisText function that determines view-type calculations. Both flaws stem from inadequate input validation and improper buffer management within the gopherd codebase, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. The root cause aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the gopherd process, typically running as a system user or root. The attack vectors leverage the daemon's handling of user-supplied input through network connections, making the exploitation accessible to anyone capable of connecting to the affected gopher server. This creates significant risk for organizations maintaining legacy gopher services, particularly those that have not migrated to modern protocols like http or ftp.
The attack methodology follows established patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, where adversaries leverage buffer overflow vulnerabilities to inject and execute malicious code. The exploitation requires network access to the vulnerable service and typically involves crafting specially formatted requests that trigger the buffer overflow conditions. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to potential privilege escalation and persistent access to affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment, as the vendor released version 3.0.6 to address these specific buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to gopher services, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious LIST command patterns, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected legacy services. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms in all network services aligns with security best practices and helps prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations.