CVE-2013-0716 in VxWorks
Summary
by MITRE
The web server in Wind River VxWorks 5.5 through 6.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted URI.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0716 affects Wind River VxWorks operating systems version 5.5 through 6.9, specifically targeting the web server component that is commonly deployed in embedded systems and industrial environments. This issue represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt system operations through a carefully constructed Uniform Resource Identifier. The affected web server daemon in VxWorks is designed to handle HTTP requests from remote clients, making it a critical component for networked embedded devices that require web-based management or data access capabilities.
The technical flaw manifests when the web server processes a malformed or specially crafted URI that triggers an improper handling mechanism within the daemon's request parsing logic. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation, where the system fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming URI parameters before processing them. The specific implementation error causes the web server daemon to crash and restart unexpectedly when encountering such malformed URIs, leading to a denial of service condition that can persist until manual intervention occurs. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in embedded environments where system availability is critical for operational continuity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect mission-critical embedded systems deployed in industrial control environments, automotive applications, or network infrastructure devices. When the web server daemon crashes, it not only prevents remote access to the system's web interface but can also potentially impact other services running on the same embedded platform. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a direct threat to the availability aspect of the CIA triad. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1499.004 for network denial of service, where attackers leverage system weaknesses to disrupt network services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0716 should include immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches or firmware updates that address the URI handling flaw in the web server component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious URI patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should consider disabling the web server component entirely if web-based access is not essential for operations, as this provides a complete defense against this specific attack vector. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in embedded systems where resource constraints and security considerations must be carefully balanced to maintain operational integrity while preventing exploitation.