CVE-2005-2806 in BNBT
Summary
by MITRE
client.cpp in BNBT EasyTracker 7.7r3.2004.10.27 and earlier allows remote attackers cause a denial of service (application hang) via an HTTP header containing only a ":" (colon), possibly leading to an integer signedness error due to a missing field name or value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2806 resides within the BNBT EasyTracker 7.7r3.2004.10.27 and earlier versions, specifically in the client.cpp component. This flaw represents a classic denial of service condition that can be triggered through carefully crafted HTTP header inputs, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in the application's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when an HTTP header contains only a colon character without any preceding field name or following value, creating an abnormal parsing scenario that can cause the application to hang indefinitely.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from an integer signedness error that occurs during HTTP header processing. When the application encounters a header with only a colon, it fails to properly validate the structure of the header field, leading to an improper handling of the parsed data. This issue is categorized under CWE-129 as an insufficient validation of array index, as the application attempts to process malformed header data without adequate bounds checking. The missing field name or value creates a scenario where the parsing logic cannot correctly determine the intended data structure, resulting in the application entering an unresponsive state.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running the affected BNBT EasyTracker software, as it allows remote attackers to perform denial of service attacks without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The application hang condition can persist for extended periods, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users and potentially causing cascading failures in dependent systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks, and represents a common pattern of input validation flaws that can be exploited across various web applications and services.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it demonstrates a broader class of software flaws that can be exploited in similar ways across different applications. The lack of proper input sanitization and validation creates an attack surface that can be easily exploited by automated tools, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. Organizations utilizing affected versions should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates or patches provided by the vendor. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and rate limiting mechanisms can help mitigate the risk of exploitation while awaiting official patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and error handling in preventing denial of service conditions, particularly in applications that process user-supplied data through HTTP headers.