CVE-2005-2224 in ASP.NET
Summary
by MITRE
aspnet_wp.exe in Microsoft ASP.NET web services allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption from infinite loop) via a crafted SOAP message to an RPC/Encoded method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2224 affects the aspnet_wp.exe process within Microsoft ASP.NET web services, representing a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted SOAP messages. This vulnerability specifically targets RPC/Encoded methods within the web service infrastructure, creating a condition where the affected system becomes trapped in an infinite loop that consumes excessive CPU resources. The flaw exists in the processing logic of the web service runtime, where malformed SOAP requests containing specific encoding patterns can trigger unintended execution paths that never terminate properly.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of SOAP message encoding within the ASP.NET web service framework. When an RPC/Encoded method receives a maliciously constructed SOAP message, the parsing and processing routines fail to properly validate or sanitize the input parameters. This failure allows the system to enter an infinite loop during the method execution phase, where the processor continuously cycles through a problematic code path without ever reaching a termination condition. The aspnet_wp.exe process becomes completely consumed by this loop, causing the system to become unresponsive and effectively denying service to legitimate users who attempt to access the web service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The infinite loop consumes CPU cycles at maximum capacity, potentially leading to complete system exhaustion and cascading failures in environments where multiple web services are running concurrently. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by simply sending a crafted SOAP message to any exposed RPC/Encoded web service endpoint, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web service environments. The attack can be executed repeatedly, causing sustained denial of service conditions that may persist until the affected service is manually restarted or the system is rebooted.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses the issue of infinite loops in software implementations, and represents a classic example of how malformed input processing can lead to resource exhaustion attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service, as it enables attackers to consume system resources and render services unavailable to legitimate users. The exploitability of this vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal skill and resources to execute, making it a preferred attack vector for malicious actors seeking to disrupt web service availability. Organizations running ASP.NET web services that expose RPC/Encoded methods should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat requiring immediate attention and remediation to prevent potential system compromise and service disruption.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization within SOAP message processing routines, along with deploying network-level protections such as rate limiting and intrusion detection systems. Microsoft released patches addressing this vulnerability through security updates, and organizations should ensure all affected systems are properly updated. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and alerting mechanisms can help detect unusual CPU consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, allowing for rapid response to potential attacks.