Novell eDirectory up to 8.7.3.8 Presp9 HTTP Protocol Stack BuildRedirectURL memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Novell eDirectory up to 8.7.3.8 Presp9. This affects the function BuildRedirectURL of the component HTTP Protocol Stack. Executing a manipulation can lead to memory corruption. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2006-5478. The attack can be executed remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Novell eDirectory up to 8.7.3.8 Presp9 (Directory Service Software). It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function BuildRedirectURL of the component HTTP Protocol Stack. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in Novell eDirectory 8.8.x before 8.8.1 FTF1, and 8.x up to 8.7.3.8, and Novell NetMail before 3.52e FTF2, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long HTTP Host header, which triggers an overflow in the BuildRedirectURL function; or vectors related to a username containing a . (dot) character in the (2) SMTP, (3) POP, (4) IMAP, (5) HTTP, or (6) Networked Messaging Application Protocol (NMAP) Netmail services.

The bug was discovered 08/14/2006. The weakness was released 10/23/2006 by Michael Ligh and Ryan Smith with mnin.org (Website). The advisory is available at mnin.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2006-5478 since 10/24/2006. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details and also a public exploit are known.

It is possible to download the exploit at saintcorporation.com. It is declared as highly functional. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 70 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 22903 (Novell eDirectory iMonitor HTTP Protocol Stack (httpstk) Host HTTP Header Remote Overflow), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CGI abuses and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38566 (Novell eDirectory Multiple Remote Heap Overflows).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at support.novell.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 8711. In this case the pattern Host|3A| is used for detection. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 4519.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (29772), Exploit-DB (28835), Tenable (22903), SecurityFocus (BID 20853†) and OSVDB (29993†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-2627, VDB-2628, VDB-34037 and VDB-34036. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Highly functional
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 22903
Nessus Name: Novell eDirectory iMonitor HTTP Protocol Stack (httpstk) Host HTTP Header Remote Overflow
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 100834
OpenVAS Name: Novell eDirectory Multiple Stack Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/edirectory_imonitor_redir
Saint Name: Novell eDirectory iMonitor HTTP redirection buffer overflow

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

MetaSploit ID: edirectory_host.rb
MetaSploit Name: Novell eDirectory NDS Server Host Header Overflow
MetaSploit File: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Patch: support.novell.com

Snort ID: 8711
Snort Message: WEB-MISC Novell eDirectory HTTP redirection buffer overflow attempt
Snort Pattern: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
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PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

08/14/2006 🔍
10/22/2006 +69 days 🔍
10/23/2006 +1 days 🔍
10/23/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/23/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/23/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/23/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/24/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/24/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/24/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/26/2006 +2 days 🔍
11/01/2006 +6 days 🔍
11/01/2006 +0 days 🔍
04/25/2026 +7115 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: novell.com

Advisory: mnin.org
Researcher: Michael Ligh, Ryan Smith
Organization: mnin.org
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2006-5478 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2006-5478
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-2626
X-Force: 29772
SecurityFocus: 20853 - Novell Netmail Authentication Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 22519 - Novell Products Two Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities, Moderately Critical
OSVDB: 29993 - Novell eDirectory iMonitor HTTP Protocol Stack (httpstk) Host HTTP Header Remote Overflow
SecurityTracker: 1017141
Vulnerability Center: 12969 - Novell eDirectory Server iMonitor Before 8.8 Complete System Compromise Due to Buffer Overflow, Critical
Vupen: ADV-2006-4141

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 10/26/2006 16:54
Updated: 04/25/2026 07:35
Changes: 10/26/2006 16:54 (106), 09/05/2019 13:35 (13), 05/25/2025 22:39 (16), 04/25/2026 07:35 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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