CVE-2003-1262 in HTTP Fetcher
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the http_fetch function of HTTP Fetcher 1.0.0 and 1.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a URL request via a long (1) host, (2) referer, or (3) userAgent value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1262 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the HTTP Fetcher 1.0.0 and 1.0.1 software components. This issue resides in the http_fetch function which processes web requests and handles various URL parameters including host, referer, and userAgent fields. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or limit the length of these critical HTTP header values. When malicious actors submit specially crafted requests containing excessively long values for these parameters, the application's memory management becomes compromised, leading to potential system instability and unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the HTTP protocol handling mechanisms within the affected software.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability follows the classic pattern where fixed-size buffers are written to without proper boundary checks. The http_fetch function likely allocates memory for storing host, referer, and userAgent values using fixed-length buffers that cannot accommodate excessively long input strings. When the input exceeds these predetermined buffer limits, adjacent memory locations become overwritten, causing unpredictable behavior. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and also aligns with CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The attack vector requires remote exploitation through network-based HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any user interacting with the vulnerable web service. The vulnerability's classification under the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures framework indicates its severity and the need for immediate remediation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a significant threat to system integrity. When exploited successfully, attackers can cause the affected application to crash or, more critically, inject and execute malicious code within the target system's memory space. This capability allows for complete system compromise, unauthorized data access, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects web applications that utilize the HTTP Fetcher component, creating widespread exposure across various platforms and operating systems that rely on this particular software library for HTTP request processing. Organizations running vulnerable versions face potential data breaches, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations. The exploitability of this vulnerability through simple HTTP requests means that even unauthenticated attackers can potentially compromise systems, making it particularly concerning for publicly accessible web services and applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1262 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to patched versions of HTTP Fetcher that include proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict input length limitations for HTTP headers, particularly focusing on host, referer, and userAgent fields to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious HTTP requests containing unusually long parameter values. The implementation of proper memory management practices including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and non-executable stack protections can significantly reduce exploitability. Security teams should also establish comprehensive monitoring procedures to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability's presence highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions that could be exploited in modern software environments. The ATT&CK framework classification for this vulnerability would include techniques related to buffer overflow exploitation and remote code execution, emphasizing the need for layered defensive strategies to protect against such fundamental security flaws that persist across decades of software development practices.