CVE-2004-1513 in 04webserver
Summary
by MITRE
04WebServer 1.42 does not adequately filter data that is written to log files, which could allow remote attackers to inject carriage return characters into the log file and spoof log entries.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1513 affects 04WebServer version 1.42 and represents a significant security flaw in log file handling mechanisms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of data written to log files, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate system logging processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's inability to properly filter or escape special characters during log entry creation, particularly focusing on carriage return characters that can be injected into log files.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attacker capabilities that leverage the server's logging functionality as an attack vector. When legitimate data is written to log files, the server fails to sanitize input parameters that might contain malicious carriage return sequences. This allows attackers to inject newline characters and other control sequences that can disrupt the normal flow of log entries. The injected characters can cause log entries to appear as if they originate from different sources or contain false information, effectively enabling log spoofing and manipulation of audit trails.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple log manipulation and can significantly compromise system security monitoring and incident response capabilities. When attackers can spoof log entries, they gain the ability to obscure their actual activities within system logs, making it difficult for security teams to accurately trace malicious actions or identify attack patterns. This vulnerability directly undermines the integrity of audit logs that are crucial for forensic analysis, compliance reporting, and security monitoring. The ability to inject carriage return characters into log files also opens possibilities for log injection attacks that can be used to bypass security controls or create false positive alerts in intrusion detection systems.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-117, which addresses improper output neutralization for logs, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1562.006 for "Impair Command and Control"). The flaw represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that can be exploited to manipulate system records and compromise security monitoring processes. Organizations relying on 04WebServer 1.42 for web hosting or application delivery face increased risk of undetected malicious activities when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1513 should focus on implementing robust input sanitization mechanisms that properly escape or filter special characters before writing data to log files. Security administrators should ensure that all user-supplied data is validated and sanitized according to established security practices, particularly for any input that will be logged or displayed in system outputs. The recommended approach includes implementing proper character encoding, using secure logging libraries that handle special characters appropriately, and regularly reviewing log file integrity to detect potential injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing log file monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns or injected sequences that may indicate exploitation attempts. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to newer versions of the 04WebServer software that have addressed these logging vulnerabilities and implemented proper input validation mechanisms to prevent similar issues from occurring in future deployments.