CVE-2013-4199 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
(1) cb_decode.py and (2) linkintegrity.py in Plone 2.1 through 4.1, 4.2.x through 4.2.5, and 4.3.x through 4.3.1 allow remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via a large zip archive, which is expanded (decompressed).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4199 affects the Plone content management system across multiple versions including 2.1 through 4.1, 4.2.x through 4.2.5, and 4.3.x through 4.3.1. This security flaw resides in two specific Python modules: cb_decode.py and linkintegrity.py which are integral components of Plone's architecture. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for organizations relying on Plone for their web content management needs, as it exposes the system to potential denial of service attacks that can severely impact operational availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the zip archive handling functionality of Plone's content management modules. When authenticated users with appropriate privileges upload or process large zip archives through the affected cb_decode.py and linkintegrity.py components, the system performs decompression operations without sufficient safeguards against resource exhaustion. This decompression process consumes substantial memory and processing power, creating a scenario where malicious or compromised accounts can systematically consume system resources until the application becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. The flaw essentially allows attackers to leverage legitimate system functionality to perform resource exhaustion attacks that can bring the entire Plone instance to a halt.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious risk for Plone deployments as it requires only authenticated access to cause significant disruption. The impact extends beyond simple service unavailability, as the resource consumption can affect system stability, potentially leading to cascading failures that impact other applications or services running on the same infrastructure. Organizations may experience extended downtime, reduced user satisfaction, and potential data loss if systems become unresponsive during peak usage periods. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Plone serves as a critical content management platform for enterprise websites, intranets, or public-facing portals where continuous availability is essential.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which describes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" as a common weakness that occurs when applications fail to properly manage resource allocation and deallocation. This weakness frequently manifests in scenarios where input validation is insufficient or where applications process untrusted data without proper resource limits. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to "Network Denial of Service" and potentially T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts" since the attack requires authenticated access to exploit. Organizations should consider implementing rate limiting, resource quotas, and input validation measures to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The most effective mitigations include applying the vendor-provided patches, implementing strict file size limits for zip archive uploads, and monitoring system resource consumption patterns to detect anomalous behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by restricting which authenticated users can access the vulnerable functionality.