CVE-2004-2164 in VP-ASP
Summary
by MITRE
shoprestoreorder.asp in VP-ASP 5.0 does not close the database connection when a user restores a previous order, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (connection consumption).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2164 affects VP-ASP 5.0 shopping cart software where the shoprestoreorder.asp component fails to properly close database connections during the order restoration process. This represents a classic resource management flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers to consume available database connections and ultimately cause denial of service conditions. The flaw resides in the application's failure to implement proper connection lifecycle management, a fundamental security principle that is essential for maintaining system availability and preventing resource exhaustion attacks.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates poor implementation of database connection handling practices that aligns with CWE-404, which addresses improper resource cleanup or release. The absence of proper connection closure means that each successful order restoration operation leaves a database connection open, creating a resource leak that can accumulate over time. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks and can be classified as a denial of service condition that affects the availability of database resources for legitimate users and system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for web applications. When database connections remain open indefinitely, attackers can repeatedly trigger the order restoration functionality to consume all available database connections, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing the shopping cart system. This attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely without authentication, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt e-commerce operations.
The vulnerability demonstrates a critical gap in the application's security architecture and highlights the importance of implementing proper resource management practices in web applications. According to ATT&CK framework category T1499, this vulnerability could be exploited to perform resource exhaustion attacks that consume system resources and impact availability. The flaw also relates to defensive design principles that require applications to properly manage and release system resources, including database connections, file handles, and network sockets.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing proper connection management practices such as ensuring that all database connections are explicitly closed after use, implementing connection pooling with appropriate timeouts, and adding connection limits to prevent abuse. Organizations should also implement monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual connection patterns and establish automated alerting for resource exhaustion conditions. Additionally, regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar resource management flaws in other application components, as this type of vulnerability commonly occurs in legacy web applications that were not designed with modern security practices in mind. The fix typically involves modifying the shoprestoreorder.asp script to ensure database connections are properly closed after each restoration operation, implementing connection timeouts, and establishing connection limits to prevent abuse.