CVE-2004-0331 in OpenManage Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Dell OpenManage Web Server 3.4.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a HTTP POST with a long application variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0331 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within Dell OpenManage Web Server version 3.4.0. This issue resides in the server's handling of HTTP POST requests and specifically targets the processing of application variables. The vulnerability operates by exploiting improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately check the length of data submitted through HTTP POST methods. When an attacker crafts a malicious POST request containing an excessively long application variable, the web server's memory management routines become compromised, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic heap overflow condition where the software attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing of HTTP POST parameters, where the application variable length is not properly validated before being copied into a fixed-size buffer located in heap memory. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and causing the web server process to crash.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments relying on Dell OpenManage for system monitoring and management. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can trigger the denial of service condition without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the crash can potentially lead to information disclosure or even remote code execution depending on the system configuration and memory layout. Organizations using this vulnerable version of Dell OpenManage face the risk of unauthorized service disruption and potential compromise of their monitoring infrastructure.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and accessible to remote adversaries. Attackers need only send a specially crafted HTTP POST request containing an oversized application variable to the vulnerable web server. This method of exploitation aligns with the attack technique described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 category for Exploit Public-Facing Application, which specifically targets vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, as it directly enables denial of service attacks that can render the web server inaccessible to legitimate users and administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0331 should prioritize immediate patching of the Dell OpenManage Web Server to version 3.4.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this heap overflow condition. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to the web server ports and consider disabling unnecessary HTTP POST methods where possible. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed HTTP POST requests containing unusually long parameter values provides an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems running older versions of Dell OpenManage or similar web server software. The fix implemented by Dell addresses the root cause by introducing proper input validation and bounds checking for application variables, ensuring that memory allocations are properly managed and that buffer overflows cannot occur during HTTP request processing.