CVE-2005-1729 in eDirectory
Summary
by MITRE
Novell eDirectory 8.7.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a URL containing an MS-DOS device name such as AUX, CON, PRN, COM1, or LPT1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1729 represents a classic input validation flaw within Novell eDirectory 8.7.3 that exploits the operating system's handling of MS-DOS device names. This issue stems from the software's insufficient sanitization of URL parameters, allowing malicious actors to inject specially crafted device names that are traditionally reserved in the MS-DOS file system. These device names include AUX, CON, PRN, COM1, LPT1, and similar constructs that were designed to interface with hardware devices in legacy operating systems. The flaw exists in the web server component of eDirectory that processes HTTP requests containing URL-encoded data.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper parsing of URL parameters that contain MS-DOS device names. When the eDirectory web server encounters these specific strings in URL paths or query parameters, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing. This leads to the application attempting to interpret these device names as file paths or resource identifiers, triggering an internal error condition that causes the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it a significant security concern for systems running this version of eDirectory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. An attacker can repeatedly exploit this flaw to maintain persistent denial of service conditions, effectively rendering the eDirectory service unavailable to legitimate users. This type of attack can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where eDirectory serves as a critical directory service for authentication and authorization. The vulnerability also aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Denial of Service' tactic, specifically targeting application-level vulnerabilities that can be exploited remotely.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper sanitization of user-supplied data. The issue is classified as a CWE-20 vulnerability, which represents "Improper Input Validation" in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. Organizations using Novell eDirectory 8.7.3 should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available version, implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block such requests, and configuring the application to reject or sanitize URL parameters containing known problematic device names. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of how legacy system components can introduce unexpected security risks when integrated into modern network environments, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security assessments of all software components in use.