CVE-2005-1123 in HTTP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
Monkey daemon (monkeyd) before 0.9.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a request for a zero byte file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The monkey daemon vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1123 represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting versions prior to 0.9.1 of the monkeyd web server. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the daemon processes requests for zero byte files, creating a scenario where remote attackers can manipulate the server's memory management functions to induce system instability. The flaw exists within the file handling mechanism of the web server, where improper validation of file size parameters leads to unpredictable memory behavior during request processing. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption as defined by CWE-122, which encompasses issues where programs write data past the boundaries of allocated memory regions, potentially leading to system crashes or arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web server environments where the daemon handles numerous concurrent requests from untrusted sources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malformed HTTP request targeting a zero byte file resource within the monkeyd server's file system. The daemon's file processing logic fails to properly validate the size parameter of incoming file requests, causing the memory allocation routines to behave unpredictably when encountering zero byte file specifications. This improper handling creates a memory corruption condition that can result in the daemon crashing or becoming unresponsive, thereby enabling a denial of service attack against the targeted system. The attack vector is particularly effective because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browsing mechanisms, making it accessible to attackers with basic network access. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique for network denial of service, where adversaries leverage software flaws to disrupt services and make systems unavailable to legitimate users.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1123 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the overall stability and availability of web applications hosted on affected monkeyd servers. Organizations relying on this web server implementation face significant risk of service interruptions that could affect business operations, particularly in environments where continuous availability is critical. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur without requiring authentication or special privileges, making it an attractive target for automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers. Additionally, the memory corruption aspect introduces potential security implications beyond simple denial of service, as memory corruption vulnerabilities often provide pathways for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. System administrators should note that the vulnerability affects the core web server functionality, meaning that even legitimate requests could potentially trigger the memory corruption under specific conditions, leading to unpredictable system behavior. The remediation process requires updating to version 0.9.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and memory management fixes to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.