CVE-2004-1261 in asp2php
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the preparse function in asp2php 0.76.23 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted ASP scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1261 represents a critical security flaw in the asp2php conversion tool version 0.76.23, where multiple buffer overflows occur within the preparse function. This vulnerability exposes the software to remote code execution attacks when processing specially crafted ASP scripts, creating a significant risk for systems that utilize this conversion utility. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the preparse component, which fails to properly handle oversized or malformed input data structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves buffer overflow conditions that occur when the preparse function processes ASP script content without adequate bounds checking. When attackers submit maliciously constructed ASP files containing oversized data sequences or specific patterned inputs, the function's memory allocation mechanisms fail to prevent data from overflowing into adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite critical program execution data, including return addresses and function pointers, ultimately enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient space is allocated for data, and specifically relates to CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds writes in heap-based buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to systems that process ASP scripts through the vulnerable asp2php tool. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, establish backdoors, or deploy additional malicious payloads within the target environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications or automated conversion processes. Organizations using this tool in production environments face significant risk of compromise, especially when processing untrusted ASP content from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1261 should prioritize immediate software updates to patched versions of asp2php, as the original vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions, while also deploying input validation measures to filter potentially malicious ASP content before processing. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to reduce exploit reliability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, with potential for lateral movement through compromised systems. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure, while also ensuring that all third-party tools and conversion utilities are maintained with current security patches.