CVE-2014-4158 in Kolibri
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Kolibri 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long URI in a GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4158 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in Kolibri 2.0, a web application framework that was widely used for developing web-based applications. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of HTTP GET requests and specifically targets the processing of Uniform Resource Identifiers that exceed normal length parameters. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or limit the length of URI parameters, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of buffer overflow vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code on target systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTTP GET request containing an excessively long URI parameter that surpasses the allocated stack buffer size. During normal application processing, the framework parses the URI and attempts to store the parameter values in a fixed-size stack buffer without adequate bounds checking. When the input exceeds the buffer capacity, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. This memory corruption can be manipulated by attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected into the stack, thereby achieving remote code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no authentication and can be executed entirely through web-based requests, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the vulnerability is particularly susceptible to exploitation using techniques such as return-oriented programming or direct code injection.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4158 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of affected systems that could lead to data theft, system infiltration, or further lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running Kolibri 2.0 applications were exposed to immediate risk of unauthorized access, with attackers able to leverage this vulnerability to gain full control over affected servers. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers could potentially compromise systems without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it a significant threat to web application security. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access through backdoor creation or to use compromised systems as launch points for attacks against other network resources. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities often results in cascading security incidents where initial compromise leads to broader system infiltration, making the impact of this single vulnerability potentially severe across enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4158 should focus on immediate patching of affected Kolibri 2.0 installations, as the vulnerability was resolved through proper input validation and buffer size enforcement in subsequent versions. Organizations should implement robust input validation mechanisms that enforce strict limits on URI parameter lengths and ensure that all web applications perform adequate bounds checking before storing user input in fixed-size buffers. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by filtering malicious URI patterns and monitoring for suspicious request lengths. Security monitoring should include detection of unusually long URI parameters that might indicate exploitation attempts, while application security reviews should incorporate thorough code analysis for similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive vulnerability scanning of all web applications to identify potential similar flaws in other frameworks or libraries that may be susceptible to the same class of attack. Organizations should also consider implementing secure coding practices that follow established guidelines for memory management and input validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future development cycles, aligning with security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements for secure application development.