CVE-2019-5953 in wget
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in GNU Wget 1.20.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) or may execute an arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5953 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within GNU Wget version 1.20.1 and earlier releases. This issue stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately check the length of data being processed during network operations. The buffer overflow occurs when wget handles certain malformed responses from web servers or when processing specially crafted content during file downloads, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability affects the core download functionality of wget, making it a significant concern for systems that rely on this tool for automated downloads and file retrieval operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging memory corruption patterns that occur when wget attempts to store data in insufficiently sized buffers. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors including malicious HTTP responses, specially crafted URLs, or manipulated download content that causes wget to process data beyond allocated memory boundaries. Attackers can potentially achieve remote code execution by carefully crafting input that overflows buffer space and redirects program execution flow to malicious code.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to enterprise environments where wget is commonly used for automated system tasks, software updates, and network administration activities. Systems utilizing wget for routine operations become potential attack vectors for adversaries seeking to compromise network infrastructure or escalate privileges. The denial-of-service aspect of this vulnerability can be exploited to disrupt critical network services, while the code execution capability provides attackers with persistent access to affected systems. Organizations that deploy wget in production environments, particularly those with automated deployment scripts or security monitoring systems that depend on wget functionality, face heightened risk of unauthorized access and system compromise.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5953 primarily focus on immediate software updates to versions of wget that have addressed the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should prioritize patching vulnerable installations and implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations can deploy network segmentation and access controls to limit wget usage to trusted sources only. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers command and script interpreter execution, as exploitation may involve manipulating wget to execute malicious payloads. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxed environments for wget operations and monitoring for unusual download patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of wget versions to ensure compliance with security baselines and prevent potential exploitation through this and related buffer overflow vulnerabilities.