CVE-2004-1303 in Yanf
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the get function in get.c for Yanf 0.4 allows remote malicious web servers to execute arbitrary code via crafted HTTP responses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1303 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Yanf web client version 0.4, specifically within the get.c source file's get function implementation. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices that fail to properly handle oversized data payloads received from web servers. The flaw exists in the client-side component that processes HTTP responses, creating an environment where malicious actors can exploit the vulnerable code path through carefully crafted HTTP responses from compromised or malicious web servers. The buffer overflow occurs when the application attempts to store data exceeding the allocated buffer space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions including return addresses and control data structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern where remote attackers craft malicious HTTP responses designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition. When the Yanf client processes these specially constructed responses, the overflow corrupts the program's execution flow, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which represents a fundamental weakness in memory safety practices. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates over the network without requiring any local privileges or user interaction, making it a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation for execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1303 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access to systems running vulnerable versions of Yanf. Once successfully exploited, attackers can potentially gain complete control over the affected system, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised client as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The vulnerability affects any system that relies on Yanf 0.4 for web content retrieval, making it particularly concerning for organizations that depend on this client for automated web scraping, monitoring, or content delivery functions. The memory corruption resulting from the buffer overflow can also lead to application crashes, denial of service conditions, or unpredictable behavior that may mask the actual exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1303 require immediate attention through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as the vulnerability represents a critical security risk that should not be ignored. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly when the affected client is used in environments where untrusted web content may be encountered. Input validation measures should be enhanced to include proper bounds checking and data sanitization for all HTTP response processing, while also implementing address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious HTTP responses designed to trigger this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of Yanf 0.4 deployment and ensure that all affected systems receive immediate patching to prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches to ensure that the vulnerability is fully addressed without introducing new compatibility issues in the affected applications.