CVE-2007-5893 in C++ Sockets Library
Summary
by MITRE
HTTPSocket.cpp in the C++ Sockets Library before 2.2.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an HTTP request with a missing protocol version number, which triggers an exception. NOTE: some of these details were obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5893 affects the C++ Sockets Library version 2.2.4 and earlier, specifically within the HTTPSocket.cpp component. This flaw represents a classic input validation issue that can be exploited to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability occurs when the library processes HTTP requests that lack a proper protocol version number in the request line. This absence of protocol version information triggers an unhandled exception within the socket library's HTTP parsing mechanism, leading to application termination and denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling and input validation within the HTTP request parsing logic. When an HTTP request arrives without a protocol version specification such as HTTP/1.0 or HTTP/1.1, the parsing routine fails to properly handle this malformed input. The C++ Sockets Library does not implement robust exception handling for missing protocol version fields, causing the application to crash when encountering such malformed requests. This behavior aligns with CWE-248, which describes an exception handling vulnerability where an exception is thrown but not properly caught, resulting in application instability. The flaw manifests as a failure to gracefully process malformed HTTP input, making it particularly dangerous in network-facing applications that rely on this library for HTTP communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise system availability in environments where the affected library is deployed. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending carefully crafted HTTP requests that omit the protocol version, causing the targeted application to terminate unexpectedly. This denial of service condition can be particularly problematic in web servers, proxy applications, or any network service that utilizes the C++ Sockets Library for HTTP processing. The vulnerability is classified as a remote attack vector, meaning that an attacker does not require local system access to exploit the flaw, making it a significant concern for publicly accessible services. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the attack technique of service disruption or availability compromise within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the category of Denial of Service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to version 2.2.5 or later of the C++ Sockets Library, which contains the necessary fixes to properly handle missing protocol version information. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed HTTP requests targeting this specific vulnerability pattern. Additionally, application-level input validation should be implemented as a defensive measure, ensuring that HTTP requests are properly validated before being passed to the vulnerable library components. System administrators should conduct thorough testing of the updated library in their environments to ensure compatibility and prevent unintended side effects. The fix implemented in version 2.2.5 likely includes improved exception handling mechanisms and proper validation of HTTP request format elements, addressing the root cause of the unhandled exception that previously led to application crashes.