Lynx Malformed HTML Infinite Loop Denial Of Service Vulnerability

BID:11443

Info

Lynx Malformed HTML Infinite Loop Denial Of Service Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 11443
Class: Failure to Handle Exceptional Conditions
CVE: CVE-2004-1617
Remote: Yes
Local: No
Published: Oct 18 2004 12:00AM
Updated: Nov 28 2006 11:10PM
Credit: Discovery is credited to Michal Zalewski.
Vulnerable: University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.6
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5 dev.8
+ MandrakeSoft Multi Network Firewall 2.0
+ MandrakeSoft Single Network Firewall 7.2
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 9.0
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 8.2 ppc
 + Mandriva Linux Mandrake 8.2
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 8.1 ia64
 + Mandriva Linux Mandrake 8.1
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 8.0 ppc
 + Mandriva Linux Mandrake 8.0
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.2
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5 dev.5
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5 dev.4
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5 dev.3
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5 dev.2
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5
+ MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 3.0 x86_64
 + MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 3.0
+ MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 2.1 x86_64
 + MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 2.1
+ MandrakeSoft Multi Network Firewall 2.0
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 2006.0 x86_64
 + Mandriva Linux Mandrake 2006.0
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 10.2 x86_64
 + Mandriva Linux Mandrake 10.2
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 10.1 x86_64
 + Mandriva Linux Mandrake 10.1
+ Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 5.10 powerpc
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 5.10 i386
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 5.10 amd64
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 5.0 4 powerpc
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 5.0 4 i386
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 5.0 4 amd64
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 4.1 ppc
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 4.1 ia64
 + Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux 4.1 ia32
 University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.4 rel.1
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.4
+ Caldera OpenLinux Server 3.1.1
+ Caldera OpenLinux Server 3.1
+ Caldera OpenLinux Workstation 3.1.1
+ Caldera OpenLinux Workstation 3.1
+ Debian Linux 3.0
+ Redhat Linux for iSeries 7.1
+ Redhat Linux for pSeries 7.1
+ Sun Linux 5.0.6
+ Trustix Secure Linux 1.5
+ Trustix Secure Linux 1.2
+ Trustix Secure Linux 1.1
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.3 rel.1
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.3 pre.5
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.3 dev2x
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.3 dev.22
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.3
+ Debian Linux 2.2
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.2 rel.1
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.1
University of Kansas Lynx 2.8
University of Kansas Lynx 2.7
Debian Linux 3.1 sparc
Debian Linux 3.1 s/390
Debian Linux 3.1 ppc
Debian Linux 3.1 mipsel
Debian Linux 3.1 mips
Debian Linux 3.1 m68k
Debian Linux 3.1 ia-64
Debian Linux 3.1 ia-32
Debian Linux 3.1 hppa
Debian Linux 3.1 arm
Debian Linux 3.1 amd64
Debian Linux 3.1 alpha
Debian Linux 3.1
Debian Linux 3.0 sparc
Debian Linux 3.0 s/390
Debian Linux 3.0 ppc
Debian Linux 3.0 mipsel
Debian Linux 3.0 mips
Debian Linux 3.0 m68k
Debian Linux 3.0 ia-64
Debian Linux 3.0 ia-32
Debian Linux 3.0 hppa
Debian Linux 3.0 arm
Debian Linux 3.0 alpha
Debian Linux 3.0
Not Vulnerable:

Discussion

Lynx Malformed HTML Infinite Loop Denial Of Service Vulnerability

Lynx is prone to a denial-of-service vulnerability when handling certain malformed HTML. Attackers could exploit this condition could to cause the application to enter an infinite loop.

Exploit / POC

Lynx Malformed HTML Infinite Loop Denial Of Service Vulnerability

This issue was discovered with the 'mangleme' web fuzzer:

http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/soft/mangleme.tgz

The following proof of concept is also available:

http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/mangleme/gallery/lynx_die1.html

Solution / Fix

Lynx Malformed HTML Infinite Loop Denial Of Service Vulnerability

Solution:
OpenBSD has reportedly released an independent fix for this issue. Symantec has not confirmed this.

Currently we are not aware of any vendor-supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected]:[email protected]

Please see the references for vendor advisories and fixes.


University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.4

University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.5

University of Kansas Lynx 2.8.6

References

Lynx Malformed HTML Infinite Loop Denial Of Service Vulnerability

References:

© CVE.report 2026

Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. It is the responsibility of user to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content. EACH USER WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY consequences of his or her direct or indirect use of this web site. ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. This site will NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT or any other kind of loss.

CVE, CWE, and OVAL are registred trademarks of The MITRE Corporation and the authoritative source of CVE content is MITRE's CVE web site. This site includes MITRE data granted under the following license.

Free CVE JSON API cve.report/api

CVE.report and Source URL Uptime Status status.cve.report