CVE-2018-7632 in EpiCentro
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer Overflow in httpd in EpiCentro E_7.3.2+ allows attackers to cause a denial of service attack remotely via a specially crafted GET request with a leading "/" in the URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7632 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the httpd module of EpiCentro E_7.3.2 and related versions. This security weakness resides in the web server component's handling of HTTP requests, specifically when processing GET requests that contain a leading forward slash character in the URL path. The flaw manifests when the server fails to properly validate input length and structure, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and demonstrates a classic buffer overflow pattern where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the URL parsing logic of the EpiCentro web server. When a specially crafted GET request is received with a leading "/" character in the URL path, the httpd component attempts to process this malformed input without adequate boundary checks. This processing error creates a condition where the buffer allocated for storing the URL components becomes insufficient to accommodate the malicious input, resulting in memory corruption. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal complexity and can be executed entirely through network communication without requiring local system access or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7632 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute denial of service attacks that render the targeted web server unavailable to legitimate users. The attack requires only a single malformed HTTP GET request to trigger the buffer overflow condition, making it particularly dangerous for systems operating in production environments. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, as it directly impacts the system's ability to provide services to authorized users. Organizations running affected EpiCentro versions face potential business disruption, loss of customer confidence, and possible regulatory compliance issues. The vulnerability can be particularly devastating in environments where continuous service availability is critical, such as financial services, healthcare systems, or critical infrastructure applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7632 should focus on immediate patch application and network-level protections. Organizations must prioritize updating their EpiCentro installations to versions that address this buffer overflow vulnerability, as provided by the vendor's security advisories. Network administrators should implement input validation rules at perimeter defenses, including web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, to filter out malformed HTTP requests containing suspicious URL patterns. The implementation of rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms can help reduce the effectiveness of automated exploitation attempts. Additionally, system hardening practices such as disabling unnecessary services, implementing proper access controls, and conducting regular security assessments should be maintained. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1071.001, which addresses application layer protocol usage. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual traffic patterns or malformed requests that may indicate exploitation attempts.