CVE-2004-0414 in CVS
Summary
by MITRE
cvs 1.12.x through 1.12.8 and 1.11.x through 1.11.16 does not properly handle malformed "entry" lines which prevents a null terminator from being used and may lead to a denial of service (crash) modification of critical program data or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0414 affects the Concurrent Versions System (CVS) version control software, specifically impacting releases from 1.12.x through 1.12.8 and 1.11.x through 1.11.16. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the CVS client and server implementations that process "entry" lines in version control metadata files. The flaw manifests when the software encounters malformed entry lines that do not properly terminate strings with null characters, creating a condition where buffer boundaries are not correctly respected during parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the parsing logic that handles CVS administrative files, particularly those containing entry information for version controlled files. When processing these malformed entries, the software fails to properly null-terminate strings before subsequent operations, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. This improper handling occurs within the core parsing routines that read and interpret version control metadata, where the lack of proper string termination allows for memory access beyond allocated boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, as the malformed input can cause unpredictable behavior in memory management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary code execution and modification of critical program data. An attacker could craft malicious entry lines that, when processed by the vulnerable CVS software, would cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably. In more severe scenarios, the memory corruption resulting from improper string handling could be exploited to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the running CVS process. This represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on CVS for version control, as the vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise development environments and potentially gain unauthorized access to source code repositories. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could involve manipulating the version control system to execute unauthorized commands.
The primary mitigation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of CVS that properly handle malformed entry lines and enforce proper string termination before processing. System administrators should immediately implement version updates to versions that address this specific parsing vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement input validation controls that sanitize entry lines before processing, though this approach is less effective than proper software patching. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit exposure by restricting who can modify version control metadata files. Monitoring for unusual CVS behavior or crash patterns can provide early detection of exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of version control systems can identify additional vulnerabilities that may exist in the broader software ecosystem.