CVE-2004-0060 in WWW File Share Pro
Summary
by MITRE
WWW File Share Pro 2.42 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a large POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0060 affects WWW File Share Pro version 2.42 and earlier, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests through improper input validation during HTTP POST request processing. This flaw exists within the web server component of the software, specifically in how it handles incoming data payloads. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where an attacker can supply a POST request containing an excessive amount of data that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing the application to crash or behave unpredictably. The issue stems from the application's failure to implement proper bounds checking on incoming request data, allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness through crafted HTTP POST requests. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage application-level vulnerabilities to disrupt service availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in memory management within the WWW File Share Pro server software. When processing HTTP POST requests, the application allocates a fixed-size buffer to store incoming data without validating the actual size of the payload being received. This creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can send a POST request with a payload larger than the allocated buffer space, causing a stack overflow that results in program termination. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or specialized privileges to exploit, making it a straightforward remote denial of service vector. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of HTTP headers and body content, where the application's input handling routine fails to enforce size limitations on the data being processed. This condition directly violates security principles related to input validation and memory safety, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the SANS Institute's Critical Security Controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged in coordinated attacks that amplify the denial of service effect. An attacker can repeatedly send large POST requests to consume system resources and cause sustained service unavailability, effectively rendering the web server inaccessible to legitimate users. The crash behavior manifests as the application process terminating unexpectedly, requiring manual restart of the service and potentially causing data loss or interruption of file sharing operations. This vulnerability affects organizations that rely on file sharing services for internal collaboration or external file distribution, where the availability of such services is critical for business operations. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the web server is exposed to untrusted networks or internet-facing systems, as the vulnerability can be exploited by anyone with network access to the affected service. The lack of authentication requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by automated scanning tools or malicious actors without requiring prior access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0060 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and implementation of defensive measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of WWW File Share Pro that addresses the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as rate limiting and connection filtering to prevent abuse of the vulnerability, particularly when immediate patching is not feasible. The implementation of web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering HTTP POST requests for suspicious patterns or excessive data sizes. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on unusual POST request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Configuration hardening measures including disabling unnecessary HTTP methods and implementing proper resource limits on incoming connections can further reduce the attack surface. From a defense-in-depth perspective, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other applications and implement secure coding practices that prevent such issues from occurring in future software development cycles. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, which are fundamental requirements in secure software development lifecycle processes and align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 security controls.