CVE-1999-0467 in CGI Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
The Webcom CGI Guestbook programs wguest.exe and rguest.exe allow a remote attacker to read arbitrary files using the "template" parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-0467 affects Webcom CGI Guestbook programs including wguest.exe and rguest.exe which are widely used web applications for managing online guestbooks. These applications are particularly vulnerable due to inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data. The flaw specifically manifests in the handling of the "template" parameter which is processed without sufficient security controls to prevent unauthorized file access attempts. This represents a classic example of a directory traversal vulnerability that was prevalent in early web application security implementations.
The technical flaw stems from the programs' failure to validate or sanitize the template parameter input before using it to construct file paths for template processing. When a remote attacker supplies a malicious template parameter value containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the application processes these inputs without proper validation, allowing arbitrary file access. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability exists because the application does not implement proper input sanitization or access control mechanisms to restrict file operations to authorized template directories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to access sensitive files on the web server hosting the vulnerable applications. Attackers can potentially read system files, configuration files, database files, or any other files accessible to the web server process. This could lead to information disclosure, system compromise, or further exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the web server environment, as unauthorized file access can expose sensitive data or system information that should remain protected. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not require local system access or credentials to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file path construction. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects any input containing directory traversal sequences or special characters that could be used to manipulate file paths. Additionally, implementing proper access controls that restrict file operations to predefined template directories and avoiding direct user input in file path construction are essential measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's initial access techniques. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in legacy web applications and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent such vulnerabilities from persisting in production environments.