CVE-2006-6853 in Durian Web Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Durian Web Application Server 3.02 freeware on Windows allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long string in a crafted packet to TCP port 4002.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6853 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Durian Web Application Server version 3.02 freeware implementation on Windows operating systems. This security weakness resides in the server's handling of network packets transmitted over TCP port 4002, which serves as the primary communication channel for the application. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or limit the length of data received from remote clients, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate the server's memory structure through carefully crafted network traffic.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends a specially constructed packet containing an excessively long string to the designated TCP port 4002. The server's processing routine does not perform adequate bounds checking or length validation before copying the incoming data into a fixed-size buffer allocated in memory. This fundamental programming error allows the overflow to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program execution flow, including return addresses and function pointers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes heap-based buffer overflows, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service scenarios, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system with the privileges of the web server process. This remote code execution capability enables attackers to gain full control over the compromised server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or use as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the broader web application security landscape by demonstrating how legacy freeware applications can contain critical flaws that persist for years without proper security maintenance or updates.
Organizations utilizing Durian Web Application Server 3.02 should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to TCP port 4002, deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious packet patterns, and application-level firewalls to filter malformed requests. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which describes exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which covers command and script interpreters. System administrators should also consider implementing network access controls, regular security assessments, and comprehensive patch management procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other components of their infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the dangers associated with using unpatched legacy software in production environments.