Title: Microsoft Exchange OWA Server Resource Starvation Vulnerability
Severity: MODERATE
Description:
Outlook Web Access is an optional component of Microsoft Exchange Server which runs in conjunction with Microsoft Internet Information Server. It provides access to a user's Exchange mailbox through a web interface.
When processing client access requests, OWA Server does not place limits on folder depth. Remote attackers can exploit this to cause a denial of service by requesting access to complex folder structures (which need not exist).
The CPU and memory consumed while processing these requests may result in a denial of service on the server. Since this is a resource exhaustion attack, all other processes on the system (other services) will be affected.
The denial of service condition will cease once OWA server has finished processing the request. Repeated attacks can cause a prolonged denial of service.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must authenticate as a legitimate client.
Affected Products:
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2000
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 SP1
References:
- Microsoft: MS01-049: Deeply-nested OWA Request Can Consume Server CPU Availability
- Microsoft: Microsoft Technet Security
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