# CVE-2009-2281: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on MapServer via crafted HTTP requests exploiting heap-based buffer underflows in the CGI utility.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Oct 2009
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2009-2281, GHSA-6726-5cj2-9h6f

## What is CVE-2009-2281?

CVE-2009-2281 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Oct 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple heap-based buffer underflows in the readPostBody function in cgiutil.c in mapserv in MapServer 4.x through 4.10.4 and 5.x before 5.4.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a crafted Content-Length HTTP header or (2) a large HTTP request, related to an integer overflow that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.  NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2009-0840.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-2281?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Osgeo Mapserver, Umn Mapserver.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-2281?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2009-2281 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-2281 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2010-2540](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-2540/): Security feature bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-0839](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0839/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-0840](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0840/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-0841](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0841/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-1176](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1176/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-2281 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-2281 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Oct 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-2281 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2281/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2281/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-2281
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-2281
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-2281

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2281/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.