CVE-2003-1595 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
NWFTPD.nlm before 5.04.05 in the FTP server in Novell NetWare 6.5 does not properly perform "intruder detection," which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1595 affects NWFTPD.nlm, the FTP server component within Novell NetWare 6.5 operating system. This flaw resides in the intruder detection mechanism that is designed to identify and mitigate unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability specifically targets the security controls that monitor and respond to potential brute force attacks, credential guessing, and other malicious activities directed at the FTP service. The absence of proper intruder detection capabilities creates a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to network resources.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from inadequate implementation of access control mechanisms within the FTP server's security framework. When the system fails to properly perform intruder detection, it means that malicious actors can conduct repeated authentication attempts without triggering automated protective measures. This weakness allows attackers to systematically work through password dictionaries or perform credential brute force attacks against the FTP service without encountering rate limiting, account lockout mechanisms, or other defensive controls. The vulnerability essentially removes the system's ability to detect and respond to suspicious authentication patterns that would normally trigger security alerts and protective actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass broader network security implications. Organizations running affected NetWare 6.5 systems become vulnerable to automated attack campaigns that can systematically compromise FTP service accounts and potentially escalate privileges to gain deeper access to the network infrastructure. The unspecified nature of attack vectors suggests that multiple exploitation techniques could be viable, including simple password guessing, dictionary attacks, and more sophisticated multi-stage assault patterns. This creates an environment where attackers can operate with reduced risk of detection while systematically compromising the system's authentication security controls.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-307, which addresses improper restriction of repeated accesses, and relates to the broader category of weak authentication mechanisms that are commonly exploited in network security breaches. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving credential access through brute force methods and privilege escalation. The lack of effective intruder detection creates opportunities for adversaries to leverage these attack patterns without triggering defensive measures, making the system particularly vulnerable to sustained attack campaigns. Organizations with affected systems may experience unauthorized data access, potential system compromise, and loss of sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to patch the NWFTPD.nlm component to version 5.04.05 or later, which addresses the intruder detection deficiencies. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including firewall rules to restrict FTP access to trusted networks, enable strong authentication mechanisms, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of affected NetWare systems and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must also include reviewing and strengthening overall FTP security policies, implementing account lockout procedures, and ensuring that all authentication mechanisms are properly configured to prevent unauthorized access attempts.