CVE-2003-0471: WebAdmin WebAdmin.exe buffer overflow via long USER argument

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 19 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

high priorityRemote unauthenticated code execution with a high EPSS score, though the absence of KEV listing and patch detail keeps it below critical.

What it is

WebAdmin.exe in Alt-N WebAdmin contains a buffer overflow reachable through an HTTP request to WebAdmin.dll with an overly long USER argument. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can trigger the overflow and potentially execute arbitrary code on the host. The record is old and thin, with no affected version range or patch detail supplied.

Impact

Successful exploitation allows remote code execution in the context of the WebAdmin service, giving the attacker control of the web administration process and likely the underlying host. Even without code execution, the overflow can crash the service, causing denial of service.

Attack surface

Reached over the network via an HTTP request to WebAdmin.dll, per the description and the AV:N/AC:L/Au:N vector. No authentication or user interaction is required.

Exploitation

Not listed in CISA KEV and no ransomware association is recorded, but EPSS is 0.60953 (99.1st percentile), indicating a high modeled likelihood of exploitation activity. Reference tags are empty, so no public exploit or PoC status can be confirmed from this record.

What to do

• Apply the vendor patch or upgrade for Alt-N WebAdmin; the record does not specify a fixed version, so confirm the current release with the vendor.
• If WebAdmin is not required, disable or remove it; otherwise restrict access to WebAdmin.dll to trusted management networks only.
• Place WebAdmin behind a reverse proxy or WAF and block requests with abnormally long USER parameter values.
• Run the WebAdmin service with least privilege and isolate it from sensitive internal systems.
• Monitor vendor advisories for this product since the supplied record lacks patch and version details.

Detection

• Inspect HTTP request logs for WebAdmin.dll requests with unusually long USER argument values.
• Alert on WebAdmin.exe process crashes or restarts, which can indicate overflow attempts.
• Monitor for unexpected child processes or command execution spawned by the WebAdmin service account.
• Review network logs for external or untrusted sources reaching WebAdmin management interfaces.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.