CVE-2004-2356 in Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Early termination vulnerability in Fizmez Web Server 1.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) by connecting to the server and then disconnecting without sending any data, which triggers a null pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2018
The CVE-2004-2356 vulnerability represents a classic early termination issue within the Fizmez Web Server version 1.0 that demonstrates a fundamental flaw in connection handling protocols. This vulnerability operates through a specific pattern where remote attackers can exploit the server's response to incomplete connection sequences, creating a scenario where the web server crashes due to improper handling of connection states. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's ability to manage connections that are established but never fully utilized, exposing a critical weakness in the server's state management mechanisms. The flaw manifests when a client connects to the server and immediately disconnects without transmitting any data payload, which triggers an unexpected execution path within the server's code structure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from a null pointer dereference condition that occurs during the server's connection processing routine. When the Fizmez Web Server encounters a connection that terminates prematurely without data transmission, the application fails to properly validate pointer references before attempting to access them, resulting in a segmentation fault or crash. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is classified as a common weakness in software design that occurs when an application attempts to access a null pointer as if it were a valid memory reference. The vulnerability demonstrates poor error handling practices where the server does not adequately check for null values or uninitialized pointers during connection termination scenarios, particularly in the context of HTTP protocol handling where connection states must be properly managed regardless of client behavior.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2356 creates significant availability risks for systems running the affected Fizmez Web Server version 1.0, as remote attackers can reliably cause service disruption through simple connection and disconnection sequences. This denial of service vulnerability can be exploited by any remote user with access to the server's network port, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the server is exposed to untrusted networks. The attack vector is extremely low complexity and requires minimal resources to execute, as it only involves establishing a TCP connection and immediately closing it without sending any data. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers seeking to disrupt services without requiring sophisticated tools or extensive knowledge of the target system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affecting system stability, as repeated exploitation could lead to system resource exhaustion or cascading failures in larger network infrastructures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2356 should focus on both immediate patching and architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the Fizmez Web Server or migrating to a more robust web server implementation that properly handles connection termination scenarios. Organizations should implement connection rate limiting and monitoring to detect unusual connection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms as outlined in the software security principles of the OWASP Top Ten. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1499.004 sub-technique for Network Denial of Service, emphasizing the need for network segmentation and intrusion detection systems to monitor for such patterns. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of connection states can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic data for incident response activities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of conducting thorough security testing, including fuzz testing and boundary condition testing, to identify similar issues in other network services and applications.