CVE-2005-0081 in MaxDB
Summary
by MITRE
MySQL MaxDB 7.5.0.0, and other versions before 7.5.0.21, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an HTTP request with invalid headers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0081 affects MySQL MaxDB versions prior to 7.5.0.21, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely through malformed HTTP requests. This vulnerability resides within the web server component of MaxDB that handles HTTP protocol communications, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where external access is permitted. The flaw specifically manifests when the web server processes HTTP requests containing invalid headers, causing the service to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation, which is classified as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, indicating that the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read or parsing error within the HTTP request handling mechanism of the MaxDB web server. When an attacker crafts an HTTP request with malformed or invalid headers, the web server component attempts to parse these headers without adequate validation checks, leading to an unhandled exception that results in process termination. This behavior aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1499.004 technique for network denial of service, where adversaries exploit weaknesses in network protocols to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to trigger the crash, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible databases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged to create sustained denial of service conditions that may require manual intervention to restore service. Organizations running affected MaxDB versions face potential business disruption, especially in mission-critical applications where database availability is paramount. The vulnerability affects not only the database server itself but also any applications or services that depend on the web interface for management or monitoring functions. In enterprise environments, this could result in cascading failures affecting multiple systems that rely on database connectivity, potentially leading to significant financial losses and reputational damage. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to malicious actors seeking to disrupt operations without requiring advanced access privileges.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate application of the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to MaxDB version 7.5.0.21 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate HTTP headers and prevent the crash condition. Network administrators should also implement firewall rules and access controls to restrict unnecessary HTTP access to database servers, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in HTTP request handling that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of input validation in web applications and the critical need for regular security updates, as highlighted in the OWASP Top Ten project's emphasis on injection flaws and input validation weaknesses. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed HTTP requests that match the characteristics of this specific vulnerability pattern.