CVE-2003-1165 in Webweaver
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in BRS WebWeaver 1.06 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request with a long User-Agent header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1165 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within BRS WebWeaver version 1.06 and earlier implementations. This security weakness resides in the web server's handling of HTTP requests, specifically targeting the User-Agent header field that is commonly used by web clients to identify themselves to the server. The buffer overflow occurs when the server processes an HTTP request containing an excessively long User-Agent header, exceeding the allocated memory buffer size. This fundamental programming error creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow attack pattern where malicious input exceeds the bounds of a fixed-length buffer allocated for storing the User-Agent header data. When the web server attempts to process the oversized header, the overflow can overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures. This memory corruption can result in the web server process terminating unexpectedly, causing a denial of service condition that renders the affected web application inaccessible to legitimate users. More critically, skilled attackers can potentially craft specific payload sequences that manipulate the overwritten memory locations to redirect program execution flow, enabling arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-1165 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential full system compromise and persistent access. Organizations running affected BRS WebWeaver versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system infiltration. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers can target systems without requiring physical access or local privileges, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing environments. This weakness aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including applying vendor patches and updates, implementing input validation controls, and deploying network-based protections. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of BRS WebWeaver or migrating to supported web server solutions that have addressed this buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit exposure by restricting access to vulnerable web servers from untrusted networks. Input validation measures should be implemented to limit the length of User-Agent headers and other HTTP request fields, while intrusion detection systems can monitor for suspicious request patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk necessitates comprehensive security assessments of all web applications and services, with particular attention to legacy systems that may contain similar buffer overflow flaws. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses across the organization's IT infrastructure, ensuring compliance with security standards and reducing the attack surface for similar exploitation techniques.