Vulnerabilities > CVE-2004-1617 - Improper Input Validation vulnerability in University of Kansas Lynx

047910
CVSS 5.0 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
NONE
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
university-of-kansas
CWE-20
nessus
NVD
Published: 2004-10-18
Updated: 2018-10-19

Summary

Lynx, lynx-ssl, and lynx-cur before 2.8.6dev.8 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a web page or HTML email that contains invalid HTML including (1) a TEXTAREA tag with a large COLS value and (2) a large tag name in an element that is not terminated, as demonstrated by mangleme. NOTE: a followup suggests that the relevant trigger for this issue is the large COLS value.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
University_Of_Kansas
16

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
    This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the attacker finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
  • Server Side Include (SSI) Injection
    An attacker can use Server Side Include (SSI) Injection to send code to a web application that then gets executed by the web server. Doing so enables the attacker to achieve similar results to Cross Site Scripting, viz., arbitrary code execution and information disclosure, albeit on a more limited scale, since the SSI directives are nowhere near as powerful as a full-fledged scripting language. Nonetheless, the attacker can conveniently gain access to sensitive files, such as password files, and execute shell commands.
  • Cross Zone Scripting
    An attacker is able to cause a victim to load content into their web-browser that bypasses security zone controls and gain access to increased privileges to execute scripting code or other web objects such as unsigned ActiveX controls or applets. This is a privilege elevation attack targeted at zone-based web-browser security. In a zone-based model, pages belong to one of a set of zones corresponding to the level of privilege assigned to that page. Pages in an untrusted zone would have a lesser level of access to the system and/or be restricted in the types of executable content it was allowed to invoke. In a cross-zone scripting attack, a page that should be assigned to a less privileged zone is granted the privileges of a more trusted zone. This can be accomplished by exploiting bugs in the browser, exploiting incorrect configuration in the zone controls, through a cross-site scripting attack that causes the attackers' content to be treated as coming from a more trusted page, or by leveraging some piece of system functionality that is accessible from both the trusted and less trusted zone. This attack differs from "Restful Privilege Escalation" in that the latter correlates to the inadequate securing of RESTful access methods (such as HTTP DELETE) on the server, while cross-zone scripting attacks the concept of security zones as implemented by a browser.
  • Cross Site Scripting through Log Files
    An attacker may leverage a system weakness where logs are susceptible to log injection to insert scripts into the system's logs. If these logs are later viewed by an administrator through a thin administrative interface and the log data is not properly HTML encoded before being written to the page, the attackers' scripts stored in the log will be executed in the administrative interface with potentially serious consequences. This attack pattern is really a combination of two other attack patterns: log injection and stored cross site scripting.
  • Command Line Execution through SQL Injection
    An attacker uses standard SQL injection methods to inject data into the command line for execution. This could be done directly through misuse of directives such as MSSQL_xp_cmdshell or indirectly through injection of data into the database that would be interpreted as shell commands. Sometime later, an unscrupulous backend application (or could be part of the functionality of the same application) fetches the injected data stored in the database and uses this data as command line arguments without performing proper validation. The malicious data escapes that data plane by spawning new commands to be executed on the host.

Nessus

  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-1085.NASL
    descriptionSeveral vulnerabilities have been discovered in lynx, the popular text-mode WWW browser. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Project identifies the following vulnerabilities : - CVE-2004-1617 Michal Zalewski discovered that lynx is not able to grok invalid HTML including a TEXTAREA tag with a large COLS value and a large tag name in an element that is not terminated, and loops forever trying to render the broken HTML. - CVE-2005-3120 Ulf Harnhammar discovered a buffer overflow that can be remotely exploited. During the handling of Asian characters when connecting to an NNTP server lynx can be tricked to write past the boundary of a buffer which can lead to the execution of arbitrary code.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id22627
    published2006-10-14
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2006-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/22627
    titleDebian DSA-1085-1 : lynx-cur - several vulnerabilities
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502

#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-1085. The text 
# itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(22627);
  script_version("1.19");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:19");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2004-1617", "CVE-2005-3120");
  script_bugtraq_id(11443);
  script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"1085");

  script_name(english:"Debian DSA-1085-1 : lynx-cur - several vulnerabilities");
  script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"Several vulnerabilities have been discovered in lynx, the popular
text-mode WWW browser. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures
Project identifies the following vulnerabilities :

  - CVE-2004-1617
    Michal Zalewski discovered that lynx is not able to grok
    invalid HTML including a TEXTAREA tag with a large COLS
    value and a large tag name in an element that is not
    terminated, and loops forever trying to render the
    broken HTML.

  - CVE-2005-3120
    Ulf Harnhammar discovered a buffer overflow that can be
    remotely exploited. During the handling of Asian
    characters when connecting to an NNTP server lynx can be
    tricked to write past the boundary of a buffer which can
    lead to the execution of arbitrary code."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=296340"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2004-1617"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2005-3120"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1085"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:
"Upgrade the lynx-cur package.

For the old stable distribution (woody) these problems have been fixed
in version 2.8.5-2.5woody1.

For the stable distribution (sarge) these problems have been fixed in
version 2.8.6-9sarge1."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_cwe_id(20);

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:lynx-cur");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:3.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:3.1");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2006/06/01");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2006/10/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2004/10/18");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2006-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
  script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("debian_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;
if (deb_check(release:"3.0", prefix:"lynx-cur", reference:"2.8.5-2.5woody1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"3.0", prefix:"lynx-cur-wrapper", reference:"2.8.5-2.5woody1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"3.1", prefix:"lynx-cur", reference:"2.8.6-9sarge1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"3.1", prefix:"lynx-cur-wrapper", reference:"2.8.6-9sarge1")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
  else security_hole(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-1077.NASL
    descriptionMichal Zalewski discovered that lynx, the popular text-mode WWW Browser, is not able to grok invalid HTML including a TEXTAREA tag with a large COLS value and a large tag name in an element that is not terminated, and loops forever trying to render the broken HTML. The same code is present in lynx-ssl.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id22619
    published2006-10-14
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2006-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/22619
    titleDebian DSA-1077-1 : lynx-ssl - programming error
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502

#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-1077. The text 
# itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(22619);
  script_version("1.15");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:19");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2004-1617");
  script_bugtraq_id(11443);
  script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"1077");

  script_name(english:"Debian DSA-1077-1 : lynx-ssl - programming error");
  script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"Michal Zalewski discovered that lynx, the popular text-mode WWW
Browser, is not able to grok invalid HTML including a TEXTAREA tag
with a large COLS value and a large tag name in an element that is not
terminated, and loops forever trying to render the broken HTML. The
same code is present in lynx-ssl."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=296340"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1077"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:
"Upgrade the lynx-ssl package.

For the old stable distribution (woody) this problem has been fixed in
version 2.8.4.1b-3.3.

The stable distribution (sarge) does not contain lynx-ssl packages
anymore."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_cwe_id(20);

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:lynx-ssl");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:3.0");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2006/05/26");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2006/10/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2004/10/18");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2006-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
  script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("debian_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;
if (deb_check(release:"3.0", prefix:"lynx-ssl", reference:"2.8.4.1b-3.3")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
  else security_warning(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-1076.NASL
    descriptionMichal Zalewski discovered that lynx, the popular text-mode WWW Browser, is not able to grok invalid HTML including a TEXTAREA tag with a large COLS value and a large tag name in an element that is not terminated, and loops forever trying to render the broken HTML.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id22618
    published2006-10-14
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2006-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/22618
    titleDebian DSA-1076-1 : lynx - programming error
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502

#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-1076. The text 
# itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(22618);
  script_version("1.17");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:19");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2004-1617");
  script_bugtraq_id(11443);
  script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"1076");

  script_name(english:"Debian DSA-1076-1 : lynx - programming error");
  script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"Michal Zalewski discovered that lynx, the popular text-mode WWW
Browser, is not able to grok invalid HTML including a TEXTAREA tag
with a large COLS value and a large tag name in an element that is not
terminated, and loops forever trying to render the broken HTML."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=296340"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1076"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:
"Upgrade the lynx package.

For the old stable distribution (woody) this problem has been fixed in
version 2.8.4.1b-3.4.

For the stable distribution (sarge) this problem has been fixed in
version 2.8.5-2sarge2."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_cwe_id(20);

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:lynx");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:3.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:3.1");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2006/05/26");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2006/10/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2004/10/18");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2006-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
  script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("debian_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;
if (deb_check(release:"3.0", prefix:"lynx", reference:"2.8.4.1b-3.4")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"3.1", prefix:"lynx", reference:"2.8.5-2sarge2")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
  else security_warning(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");

References