CVE-2004-0268 in EvolutionX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in EvolutionX 3921 and 3935 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (hang) via (1) a long cd command to the FTP server, or (2) a long dir command to the telnet server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0268 represents a critical security flaw in EvolutionX versions 3921 and 3935 that manifests through multiple buffer overflow conditions affecting network services. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the FTP and telnet server implementations within the EvolutionX software suite. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices that fail to properly handle excessively long command strings, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves buffer overflow conditions that occur when the FTP server processes a lengthy cd command and when the telnet server handles an extended dir command. These scenarios demonstrate classic buffer overrun patterns where input data exceeds the allocated memory buffer space, causing memory corruption and potentially leading to application instability. The buffer overflow conditions are particularly concerning because they can be triggered through standard network protocols without requiring authentication, making them accessible to any remote attacker with network connectivity to the affected services.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service condition that can effectively render the targeted services unavailable to legitimate users. When exploited, the buffer overflows cause the affected EvolutionX servers to hang or crash, resulting in complete service disruption that can persist until manual intervention occurs. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of both FTP and telnet services, which are fundamental components for file transfer and remote access operations. Organizations relying on EvolutionX for network services face potential business disruption and service availability issues that could impact productivity and user access to critical resources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that can occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on input data. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through service availability attacks. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these services are exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the EvolutionX software to versions that address the buffer overflow conditions through proper input validation and memory boundary checking. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit exposure by restricting access to these services to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and input validation controls at network boundaries to prevent exploitation of these buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in network service implementations, particularly in legacy software systems that may not have received regular security updates.