CVE-2003-1296 in Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Easy File Sharing (EFS) Web Server 1.2 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service via (1) an "empty symbol" in the Title field or (2) certain data in the Your Message field, possibly a long argument.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1296 affects Easy File Sharing Web Server version 1.2, a web-based file sharing application designed to facilitate document exchange over network environments. This particular flaw represents a denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers who possess valid credentials to access the system. The vulnerability manifests through specific input manipulation techniques targeting the server's handling of user-supplied data within message fields, creating a scenario where legitimate service operations can be disrupted. The affected server configuration allows for remote exploitation without requiring special privileges beyond authentication, making it particularly concerning for environments where user access controls may be insufficiently enforced.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the server's processing logic for message handling components. When users submit data through the Title field containing what is described as an "empty symbol" or provide specific data patterns in the Your Message field, the server fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs before processing. This weakness creates a condition where malformed or specially crafted input can cause the server application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing the file sharing services. The vulnerability appears to be related to argument handling where long input strings or specific character sequences trigger buffer overflow conditions or other memory management errors within the application's processing routines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical file sharing infrastructure within organizations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to repeatedly cause service interruptions, making it difficult for legitimate users to access shared documents and potentially disrupting business operations. The vulnerability affects systems where Easy File Sharing Web Server 1.2 is deployed, particularly in environments where multiple users have authenticated access rights. The impact is amplified when considering that the attack requires only authentication credentials, meaning that insiders or compromised accounts could exploit this weakness without requiring additional access privileges. Organizations relying on this web server for document management and file sharing would experience significant operational disruption during exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1296 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Easy File Sharing Web Server version 1.2 to address the input validation deficiencies. System administrators should implement input sanitization measures that validate and filter all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on message fields that may contain special characters or extended input sequences. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of service disruption that may indicate exploitation attempts, while access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users can submit content to message fields. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses the improper validation of array indices, and may also relate to CWE-770, concerning the allocation of resources without limits or with inadequate limits. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1566.001 for the initial compromise through valid credentials. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block malicious input patterns targeting similar vulnerabilities in web applications.