CVE-2007-2367 in Wserve HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in wserve_console.exe in Wserve HTTP Server (whttp) 4.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (forced application exit) via a long directory name in the URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2367 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the wserve_console.exe component of the Wserve HTTP Server version 4.6, commonly referred to as whttp. This vulnerability resides in the server's handling of Uniform Resource Identifiers and specifically targets the directory name processing functionality. The flaw manifests when the server receives a malformed URI containing an excessively long directory name, which triggers an uncontrolled buffer overflow condition. Such buffer overflows typically occur when a program writes more data to a fixed-length buffer than it can accommodate, leading to memory corruption and unpredictable application behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the server's failure to properly validate input length before processing directory names in HTTP requests. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious URI with an abnormally long directory component, the wserve_console.exe process attempts to store this data in a predetermined memory buffer without sufficient bounds checking. This lack of input sanitization creates a condition where the overflow corrupts adjacent memory segments, potentially overwriting critical program variables, return addresses, or other essential runtime data structures. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, representing a fundamental flaw in memory management practices within the web server's console component.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against the targeted Wserve HTTP Server instance. The attack results in the forced termination of the wserve_console.exe process, effectively bringing the web server to a complete halt and rendering all hosted content inaccessible to legitimate users. This denial of service condition can be easily exploited by any attacker with network access to the server, requiring no authentication or specialized privileges. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can disrupt business operations, compromise availability of critical web applications, and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate their attack vectors. The vulnerability's remote exploitability and low attack complexity make it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous availability is essential.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures. The primary remediation involves applying the official security patch released by the vendor to address the buffer overflow condition in wserve_console.exe. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as input validation firewalls, rate limiting mechanisms, and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious URI patterns. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of all web server components to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level security controls such as input length validation, parameterized queries, and proper error handling mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other server components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in preventing remote exploitation of web server applications.