CVE-2006-1322 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
Novell Netware NWFTPD 5.06.05 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (ABEND) via an MDTM command that uses a long path for the target file, possibly due to a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1322 affects Novell Netware NWFTPD version 5.06.05, a file transfer protocol server implementation that was widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. This particular flaw represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that manifests through the MDTM command, which is part of the File Transfer Protocol standard used for retrieving file modification times. The vulnerability specifically arises when a remote attacker sends a crafted MDTM command containing an excessively long path string that exceeds the allocated buffer space within the server's memory management structure. This particular implementation flaw demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and boundary checking that was common in legacy network service implementations of that era. The buffer overflow condition occurs because the server fails to properly validate the length of the path argument provided in the MDTM command before attempting to process it, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a critical security weakness that could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. When the MDTM command processes a path that exceeds the buffer capacity, the overflow can corrupt the stack memory, leading to an abnormal program termination or abend condition that effectively renders the FTP service unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol level, meaning that any client connecting to the vulnerable server could trigger the condition without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. This makes it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and represents a significant risk to network availability in environments where continuous file transfer services are critical. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such legacy systems may still be operational.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching or system replacement, as the buffer overflow condition cannot be effectively addressed through configuration changes alone. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of NWFTPD or migrating to more modern FTP implementations that properly validate input parameters and implement robust memory management practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation as outlined in the software security principles defined by the CWE organization. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under the denial of service tactic in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to techniques that exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities to disrupt service availability. Given the age of this vulnerability and the widespread deployment of affected systems, security teams should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all instances of NWFTPD 5.06.05 and other legacy FTP implementations that may be exposed to similar buffer overflow conditions, implementing network segmentation and access controls as temporary measures while permanent remediation is achieved. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of why modern software development practices emphasize defensive programming techniques and why legacy systems require careful security assessment before deployment in production environments.