CVE-2008-7014 in fhttpd
Summary
by MITRE
fhttpd 0.4.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an Authorization HTTP header with an invalid character after the Basic value.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7014 affects fhttpd version 0.4.2, a lightweight HTTP server implementation that serves as a component in various embedded systems and network appliances. This particular flaw represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits improper input validation within the HTTP header processing mechanism. The affected software fails to adequately sanitize the Authorization header, specifically when encountering the Basic authentication scheme, creating a condition where malformed input can trigger unexpected behavior in the application's processing pipeline.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the server's insufficient validation of the Authorization header format during HTTP request parsing. When an attacker crafts a request containing an Authorization header with a Basic authentication value followed by an invalid character, the fhttpd server processes this malformed input without proper error handling. This processing failure results in a crash or unexpected termination of the HTTP service, effectively rendering the affected system unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically targets the Basic authentication scheme, which is commonly used for simple username and password authentication in HTTP environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems where fhttpd serves as a core component of network infrastructure or embedded applications. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The impact of such an attack extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect availability of critical network services, potentially leading to broader operational consequences depending on the system's role within the infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and error handling that can be exploited by attackers to compromise system availability.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and the broader category of denial of service attacks within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 technique for network denial of service. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust input sanitization and error handling mechanisms in network services, particularly those serving as critical infrastructure components. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, configuring proper access controls and implementing intrusion detection systems can help mitigate the risk of exploitation while awaiting official patches or updates from the software vendor.