CVE-2004-2035 in Minimal HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
MiniShare 1.3.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a malformed HTTP GET or HEAD request without the proper number of trailing CRLF sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2035 affects MiniShare version 1.3.2, a lightweight web server implementation that serves files over HTTP. This flaw represents a classic buffer over-read or parsing error that occurs when the server processes malformed HTTP requests, specifically those lacking the proper number of trailing CRLF sequences in GET or HEAD requests. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and request parsing mechanisms within the web server's core processing logic.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting HTTP requests that do not conform to the standard protocol format expected by the server. When MiniShare receives such malformed requests, the server's HTTP parser fails to properly handle the missing CRLF sequences, leading to memory access violations or improper state handling that ultimately results in the server crashing. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper handling of buffer over-read conditions, and CWE-20, which covers input validation issues in software implementations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running MiniShare 1.3.2, as remote attackers can easily trigger a denial of service condition without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited in automated attack campaigns that continuously send malformed requests, potentially leading to sustained availability issues for legitimate users. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the server's robustness and error handling capabilities, making it susceptible to both accidental and intentional exploitation.
The attack vector for this vulnerability operates through standard network communication channels, requiring only that an attacker can reach the target server's HTTP port. The minimal complexity of the attack means that even unskilled adversaries can leverage this flaw effectively. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a privilege escalation technique through service disruption, falling under the category of "Denial of Service" tactics that can be used to compromise system availability. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of MiniShare, implementing network-level filtering to detect and block malformed HTTP requests, and configuring intrusion detection systems to monitor for such patterns.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in network services. This issue demonstrates how seemingly minor protocol deviations can lead to complete service failures, emphasizing the need for defensive programming practices and comprehensive testing of protocol implementations. Security teams should consider this vulnerability as part of a larger threat landscape where insufficient input validation can lead to various exploitation vectors beyond simple denial of service, including potential information disclosure or privilege escalation in more complex scenarios.