CVE-2004-1547 in Activepost Standard
Summary
by MITRE
The file server in ActivePost Standard 3.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a long filename, possibly triggering a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1547 affects the ActivePost Standard 3.1 file server implementation, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute denial of service attacks. This issue specifically targets the filename handling mechanism within the file server component, where insufficient input validation leads to predictable system instability. The vulnerability operates through a buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing excessively long filenames, fundamentally compromising the application's stability and availability. The affected system configuration involves ActivePost Standard versions 3.1 and earlier, indicating this weakness existed across a range of legacy implementations that were widely deployed in enterprise environments during that period.
The technical mechanism underlying this vulnerability aligns with common buffer overflow patterns found in software systems, particularly those handling user-supplied data without proper bounds checking. When an authenticated user submits a filename exceeding the allocated buffer space, the application fails to properly terminate or truncate the input, causing memory corruption that ultimately results in application crash. This flaw demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate defensive programming measures that are fundamental to secure software development. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the file server's filename processing logic, which constitutes a CWE-121 buffer overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users with legitimate credentials who may have malicious intent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the application crash to gain further system access. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash the file server, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users and potentially causing data loss or system instability. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue means that the attack can be executed repeatedly without requiring additional authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous availability is critical. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499 technique category related to network denial of service, where adversaries exploit software weaknesses to compromise system availability. The impact assessment reveals that this vulnerability could affect organizations relying on ActivePost Standard for file sharing operations, potentially disrupting business processes and creating security gaps that malicious actors might exploit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the ActivePost Standard software to the latest available version that addresses the buffer overflow condition. Organizations must implement proper input validation measures that enforce maximum filename length limits and sanitize all user-supplied data before processing. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the scope of potential exploitation by restricting access to the vulnerable file server. Additionally, system monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual application crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and comprehensive testing of legacy systems, particularly those that handle user input without proper validation. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with buffer overflow exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would likely trigger security audit findings related to inadequate input validation and insufficient error handling, emphasizing the need for robust security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.