CVE-2008-4077 in LedgerSMB
Summary
by MITRE
The CGI scripts in (1) LedgerSMB (LSMB) before 1.2.15 and (2) SQL-Ledger 2.8.17 and earlier allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource exhaustion) via an HTTP POST request with a large Content-Length.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4077 represents a classic resource exhaustion attack targeting web applications that process CGI scripts. This issue affects both LedgerSMB versions prior to 1.2.15 and SQL-Ledger versions 2.8.17 and earlier, highlighting a critical flaw in how these accounting and financial management systems handle incoming HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the applications receive HTTP POST requests containing unusually large Content-Length headers, which can trigger uncontrolled resource consumption within the server processes.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the CGI script processing mechanisms of these applications. When a remote attacker sends a POST request with an excessive Content-Length value, the system attempts to allocate memory and processing resources proportional to this specified size without proper bounds checking. This lack of parameter validation creates an opportunity for attackers to consume system resources such as memory, CPU cycles, and disk space at an unsustainable rate. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-400, which specifically addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion" conditions in software applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform denial of service attacks against affected systems, potentially rendering financial management services unavailable to legitimate users. The resource exhaustion can lead to system crashes, application unresponsiveness, or complete service disruption, which is particularly concerning for accounting systems that require high availability and reliability. Attackers can exploit this weakness with minimal technical expertise, making it a significant threat vector for organizations relying on these applications for critical financial operations. The attack can be executed from any remote location without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service" and T1595.001 for "Network Denial of Service" within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation measures, rate limiting for HTTP requests, and monitoring for unusual Content-Length values. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper resource quotas can help prevent exploitation. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to patched versions of both LedgerSMB and SQL-Ledger where proper input sanitization and resource management have been implemented. System administrators should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect and alert on anomalous request patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation and resource management in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive financial data where availability is as crucial as confidentiality and integrity.