CVE-2005-0731 in Active Webcam
Summary
by MITRE
PY Software Active Webcam WebServer (webcam.exe) 5.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a direct request to Filelist.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0731 affects PY Software Active Webcam WebServer version 5.5, specifically targeting the webcam.exe component that serves as the web server interface for webcam functionality. This issue represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits a weakness in the web server's handling of specific file requests, allowing remote attackers to consume excessive system resources and potentially disrupt legitimate service availability.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker sends a direct HTTP request to the Filelist.html endpoint of the webcam web server. This particular request triggers a processing loop or resource-intensive operation within the webcam.exe application that causes continuous CPU utilization. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the web server component, where the application fails to properly handle or limit the processing of requests to the Filelist.html file. This represents a weakness categorized under CWE-400, which deals with Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, specifically focusing on CPU consumption rather than memory or other resource types.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can lead to complete system unresponsiveness or degradation of service quality for legitimate users. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the webcam web server process to consume 100% CPU resources, effectively preventing the system from handling other requests or maintaining normal webcam functionality. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely without authentication, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors including automated scanning tools and malicious users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the webcam.exe web server component to address the resource consumption issue in the Filelist.html handler. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as rate limiting and access controls to prevent excessive requests to the vulnerable endpoint. Additionally, monitoring for unusual CPU patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper resource management and input validation in web server implementations, and organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their embedded web services to identify similar weaknesses. This issue serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices and proper resource handling in networked applications, particularly those with web server components that may be exposed to untrusted network traffic.