CVE-2004-2271 in Minimal HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in MiniShare 1.4.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2271 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within MiniShare version 1.4.1 and earlier implementations. This issue manifests specifically within the handling of HTTP GET requests, where the software fails to properly validate input length before processing user-supplied data. The buffer overflow occurs when the application receives an excessively long HTTP GET request that exceeds the allocated memory buffer size, causing adjacent memory to be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. This fundamental design flaw in input validation creates an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote adversaries to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The vulnerability resides in the core protocol handling mechanisms of the MiniShare web server implementation, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to corrupt program execution flow.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability follows established patterns consistent with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-121. When an attacker crafts a specially formatted HTTP GET request containing excessive data, the application's parsing routine fails to enforce proper buffer limits, resulting in memory corruption that can be manipulated to redirect program execution. The overflow typically targets the stack-based buffer, allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses and function pointers with malicious code pointers. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes the exploitation of input validation weaknesses to achieve arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access or local privileges, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the affected service is exposed to untrusted networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2271 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the MiniShare service account, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. This compromise can lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects organizations using legacy versions of MiniShare, particularly in environments where older networked devices or embedded systems may be running unpatched software. The impact is amplified in scenarios where the affected service is accessible from the internet, as demonstrated by numerous exploitation attempts documented in security advisories from that era. Organizations relying on such vulnerable implementations face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2271 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. The primary and most effective mitigation involves upgrading to a patched version of MiniShare that implements proper input validation and buffer management techniques. Security patches typically include implementing strict bounds checking on incoming HTTP requests, employing stack canaries for buffer overflow detection, and utilizing modern memory-safe programming practices. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable services to untrusted networks. Additionally, organizations should deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious HTTP GET request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potentially vulnerable services running older versions of similar software. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of patched implementations to ensure that security fixes do not introduce functional regressions in legitimate service operations.