CVE-2011-2704 in MapServer
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in MapServer before 4.10.7 and 5.x before 5.6.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to OGC filter encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2704 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting MapServer versions prior to 4.10.7 and 5.x versions before 5.6.7. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the OGC filter encoding processing functionality, which serves as a core component for handling geographic data queries and filtering operations in mapping applications. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the application's memory structure through carefully crafted input data that exceeds the allocated buffer space on the stack, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the filter parsing routines that process Open Geospatial Consortium standard encodings. When MapServer receives malformed OGC filter data containing oversized strings or malformed encoding structures, the application fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers. This fundamental flaw allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially corrupting the return address of the calling function or other critical program variables. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow classification, which is categorized as a high-severity issue due to its potential for remote code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the MapServer process. This represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on MapServer for web mapping services, particularly those exposed to untrusted input from external sources or public web interfaces. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including web mapping portals, geographic information systems, and location-based services that utilize MapServer as their backend mapping engine. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain persistent access to servers, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious payloads within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2704 require immediate patching of affected MapServer installations to versions 4.10.7 or 5.6.7 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of MapServer instances to untrusted networks, while monitoring for suspicious input patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services, and organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls and runtime protections to prevent exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the geographic information system infrastructure, as this type of buffer overflow represents a common class of flaws that can compromise application security and data integrity.