CVE-2006-4517 in iManager
Summary
by MITRE
Novell iManager 2.5 and 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) in the Tomcat server via a long TREE parameter in an HTTP POST, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4517 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Novell iManager versions 2.5 and 2.0.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the underlying Apache Tomcat server infrastructure that powers the iManager web application, creating a pathway for remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The flaw manifests when an attacker submits a specially crafted HTTP POST request containing an excessively long TREE parameter, which serves as a critical input field within the iManager application's web interface. This parameter is typically used for hierarchical navigation and tree structure management within the application's user interface components.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs within the Tomcat server's processing logic when handling the malformed TREE parameter. When the server attempts to process this excessively long parameter, the application code fails to properly validate the input length and subsequently attempts to dereference a null pointer during the parameter parsing phase. This NULL pointer dereference triggers an unhandled exception within the Tomcat server process, causing the application to crash and terminate its service. The vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and it represents a classic example of improper input validation that leads to application instability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to organizations relying on Novell iManager for system administration tasks. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the network without requiring local access or authentication credentials. The resulting denial of service condition effectively renders the iManager application unavailable to legitimate users, disrupting administrative functions and potentially impacting broader network operations. The attack is particularly concerning because it requires minimal effort from attackers to execute successfully, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt business operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which focuses on network denial of service attacks and demonstrates how application-level flaws can be leveraged to create system-wide availability issues.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4517 primarily involve applying the vendor-supplied patches and updates that address the input validation weakness in the Tomcat server component. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Novell iManager versions that contain proper input length validation and error handling for the TREE parameter. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can be configured to detect and block unusually long parameter values before they reach the vulnerable application. Implementing proper input sanitization and length validation measures within the application code serves as an additional defensive layer. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal HTTP POST request patterns and parameter lengths that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar flaws in web application frameworks and server components. Organizations should consider implementing rate limiting and request size restrictions as preventive measures against similar input-based denial of service attacks.