CVE-2012-1035 in Ada Web Services
Summary
by MITRE
AdaCore Ada Web Services (AWS) before 2.10.2 computes hash values for form parameters without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) by sending many crafted parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1035 affects AdaCore Ada Web Services (AWS) versions prior to 2.10.2, representing a significant security flaw in the handling of form parameters within web applications. This issue stems from the insecure computation of hash values for form parameters, where the implementation does not adequately restrict the ability to trigger hash collisions in a predictable manner. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the hash table implementation used for processing HTTP form data, creating a condition where malicious actors can exploit the weakness to consume excessive CPU resources.
The technical flaw lies in the hash function implementation used by the AWS framework when processing form parameters submitted through HTTP requests. When an attacker sends multiple crafted form parameters designed to collide within the hash table structure, the system experiences degraded performance as it attempts to resolve these collisions. This leads to a denial of service condition where the CPU utilization spikes dramatically, effectively consuming system resources and preventing legitimate users from accessing the service. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because the hash collision attack can be executed predictably, meaning attackers can craft specific payloads that will reliably trigger the resource exhaustion condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern that can be used to overwhelm server resources and potentially cause cascading failures in web applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform denial of service attacks against web services built on the AWS framework, causing significant operational disruption and potentially financial loss. The vulnerability affects any application that relies on AdaCore AWS for handling form-based input, making it particularly concerning for web applications that process user-submitted data. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal sophistication, as attackers only need to submit carefully crafted form parameters that will cause hash collisions in the underlying implementation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1035 primarily involve upgrading to AdaCore AWS version 2.10.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent predictable hash collisions. Organizations should also implement rate limiting and input validation mechanisms to reduce the impact of potential attacks, though these measures serve as temporary safeguards rather than permanent solutions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service," emphasizing the resource exhaustion nature of the attack. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual CPU consumption patterns and hash table collision activity, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.