CISADV000505.txt

`Cerberus Information Security Advisory (CISADV000505)  
http://www.cerberus-infosec.co.uk/advisories.shtml  
  
Released : 5th May 2000  
Name : DNewsweb Buffer Overflow  
Affected Systems : *nix/Win32 Web Servers running Dnewsweb  
Issue : Attackers can remotely execute arbitrary code  
Author : Mark Litchfield ([email protected])  
  
Description  
***********  
The Cerberus Security Team has found a remotely exploitable buffer overrun  
in Netwin's (http://netwinsite.com) DNewsWeb (dnewsweb/dnewsweb.exe v5.3e1),  
CGI program designed to give access to NNTP services over the world wide  
web. By supplying a specially formed QUERY_STRING to the program a buffer is  
overflowed allowing execution of arbitrary code compromising the web server.  
  
  
Details  
*******  
The are several unchecked buffers in this program where several of the  
QUERY_STRING parameters can be overflowed such as "group" and "utag". This  
overflow is simple to exploit by overwriting the saved return address with  
an address that contains a "jmp esp" or "call esp" - the remainder of the  
the QUERY_STRING is pointed to by the ESP.  
  
Solution  
********  
Netwin has made available a patch for this available from their ftp server:  
ftp://ftp.netwinsite.com/pub/dnewsweb/beta/  
Obtain the 5.4c3 version required for your system.  
  
A check for this has been added to our security scanner, CIS. More details  
about CIS can be found on our web site:  
http://www.cerberus-infosec.co.uk/  
  
Vendor Status  
*************  
Netwin were alerted to this on the 3rd May 2000. Cerberus would like to  
thank everyone involved for their prompt response.  
  
About Cerberus Information Security, Ltd  
*****************************************  
Cerberus Information Security, Ltd, a UK company, are specialists in  
penetration testing and other security auditing services. They are the  
developers of CIS (Cerberus' Internet security scanner) available for free  
from their website: http://www.cerberus-infosec.co.uk  
  
To ensure that the Cerberus Security Team remains one of the strongest  
security audit teams available globally they continually research operating  
system and popular service software vulnerabilites leading to the discovery  
of "world first" issues. This not only keeps the team sharp but also helps  
the industry and vendors as a whole ultimately protecting the end consumer.  
As testimony to their ability and expertise one just has to look at exactly  
how many major vulnerabilities have been discovered by the Cerberus Security  
Team - over 70 to date, making them a clear leader of companies offering  
such security services.  
  
Founded in late 1999, by Mark and David Litchfield, Cerberus Information  
Security, Ltd are located in London, UK but serves customers across the  
World. For more information about Cerberus Information Security, Ltd please  
visit their website or call on +44(0)208 395 4980.  
  
Permission is hereby granted to copy or redistribute this advisory but only  
in its entirety.  
  
Copyright (C) 2000 by Cerberus Information Security, Ltd  
`