CVE-2003-1592 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in NWFTPD.nlm in the FTP server in Novell NetWare 6.0 before SP4 and 6.5 before SP1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (abend) via a long (1) username or (2) password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1592 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting the NWFTPD.nlm component of Novell NetWare 6.0 and 6.5 FTP servers prior to service pack 4 and SP1 respectively. This flaw exists within the network file transfer protocol implementation that handles user authentication processes, specifically during username and password validation. The vulnerability manifests when the FTP server receives authentication requests containing excessively long input strings that exceed the allocated buffer space, leading to memory corruption and system instability. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to disrupt normal service operations and potentially enable more sophisticated attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the NWFTPD.nlm module. When a remote attacker submits authentication credentials containing strings longer than the predefined buffer limits, the system fails to properly truncate or reject the excessive input data. This results in memory corruption that overwrites adjacent memory locations, ultimately causing the FTP server process to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The specific nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows, though the primary manifestation occurs in the stack memory during authentication processing. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-1592 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass broader system reliability and availability concerns. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete FTP service interruption, affecting legitimate users who require file transfer capabilities for business operations. Organizations relying on Novell NetWare environments for critical file sharing and data exchange may experience significant operational disruption, potentially leading to productivity losses and data accessibility issues. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points, as the system crashes may be followed by attempts to exploit additional weaknesses or simply to mask malicious activities through service disruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, involving phishing through social engineering, as attackers may use service disruptions to mask other malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1592 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize installing the appropriate service packs for Novell NetWare 6.0 and 6.5 systems, specifically SP4 for version 6.0 and SP1 for version 6.5, which contain the necessary code modifications to address the buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the attack surface by restricting direct access to FTP services from untrusted networks. Input validation should be enhanced through configuration parameters that enforce maximum length limits for authentication credentials, preventing the acceptance of overly long strings. Monitoring and logging mechanisms should be implemented to detect anomalous authentication attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular system updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and address similar weaknesses in the network infrastructure.