CVE-2005-1507 in WebSTAR
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Tomcat plugin in 4d WebSTAR 5.33 and 5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1507 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Tomcat plugin component of 4d WebSTAR versions 5.33 and 5.4. This issue arises from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessively long URL strings, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web server plugin architecture that facilitates communication between the 4d WebSTAR platform and the Apache Tomcat application server. The buffer overflow condition occurs when the plugin processes URLs that exceed predetermined memory allocation limits, allowing malicious input to overwrite stack memory or heap structures. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability exists within the protocol handling logic where URL parsing and processing functions do not implement proper bounds checking or input sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for web server environments. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious URL containing excessive data, the buffer overflow can corrupt program execution flow, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The attack vector requires only a single HTTP request containing a malformed URL, making it highly exploitable in networked environments where the 4d WebSTAR server is accessible to untrusted users. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it affects a core web server plugin that likely handles numerous incoming requests, amplifying the potential damage. Systems running these vulnerable versions may experience complete service disruption through denial of service conditions, while more sophisticated exploitation attempts could result in full system compromise and persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the lack of input validation in the URL processing pipeline, which typically occurs during the initial request handling phase before any application-level security measures are applied.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1507 should prioritize immediate patching of affected 4d WebSTAR versions to eliminate the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and memory management. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the affected web server plugin and deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed URL patterns that attempt to exploit this vulnerability. The implementation of proper bounds checking and input sanitization mechanisms within the Tomcat plugin component is essential to prevent buffer overflow conditions from occurring during URL processing. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can filter out suspicious URL content before it reaches the vulnerable plugin. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions and implement comprehensive monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include proper testing of patched components to ensure that security updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing web applications. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle buffer overflow exploitation attempts and maintain detailed logs of all URL processing activities for forensic analysis purposes.