CVE-2004-1691 in DNS4Me
Summary
by MITRE
The Web Server in DNS4Me 3.0.0.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption and crash) via a large amount of data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1691 affects the web server component of DNS4Me version 3.0.0.4, representing a significant security weakness that can be exploited to disrupt service availability. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition where remote attackers can consume excessive CPU resources and trigger system crashes through the submission of large volumes of data to the web server. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the web server implementation, creating an exploitable condition that directly impacts system stability and availability. Such a flaw represents a critical concern for any network infrastructure relying on the affected software, as it can be leveraged to create service disruption without requiring elevated privileges or sophisticated attack techniques.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the web server's insufficient handling of large data inputs, which creates a resource exhaustion scenario that leads to system instability. When the server receives excessive data volumes, it fails to properly process or limit the incoming requests, resulting in continuous CPU utilization that can approach 100% and eventually cause the system to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks and can be classified as a CWE-400 weakness related to unspecified resource exhaustion. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the system does not implement adequate data size limits or processing controls to prevent malicious or accidental data overflow conditions that can overwhelm system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1691 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect business continuity and network availability for organizations relying on DNS4Me services. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability from any location with network access to the affected web server, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no local access or authentication credentials. The vulnerability can be exploited through various means including HTTP requests, file uploads, or data transmission that exceeds normal operational parameters, allowing attackers to maintain sustained disruption of service. This type of attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which describes network denial of service attacks. Organizations may experience significant downtime, loss of productivity, and potential revenue impact when this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in mission-critical environments where continuous availability is essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing input validation controls, establishing data size limits, and configuring appropriate resource management policies within the web server configuration. System administrators should implement rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms to prevent excessive data processing from overwhelming system resources. The most effective remediation approach involves upgrading to a patched version of DNS4Me that addresses the input validation deficiencies and implements proper resource management controls. Additionally, network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and firewall rules can help detect and block suspicious data traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and monitoring of system resource utilization should be implemented to identify potential exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant systems and failover mechanisms to maintain service availability even when individual components are under attack, aligning with defensive strategies outlined in cybersecurity frameworks that emphasize resilience and robustness against resource exhaustion attacks.