CVE-1999-1052 in FrontPage
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft FrontPage stores form results in a default location in /_private/form_results.txt, which is world-readable and accessible in the document root, which allows remote attackers to read possibly sensitive information submitted by other users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2026
This vulnerability exists in Microsoft FrontPage versions prior to 2002 and represents a critical configuration flaw that exposes sensitive user data through improper file permissions and insecure default settings. The vulnerability stems from FrontPage's default installation behavior of creating form result files in the web root directory structure under the path /_private/form_results.txt, which are configured with world-readable permissions that allow any remote attacker to access these files without authentication. The flaw is classified as a security misconfiguration under CWE-732 and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege. This vulnerability enables information disclosure attacks where attackers can harvest sensitive data submitted through web forms, including personal information, login credentials, or confidential business data that users believe is submitted securely to the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves FrontPage's automatic form processing mechanism that writes form submission data to flat text files in the web server's document root. When a user submits a form through a FrontPage-enabled website, the system creates a new entry in the form_results.txt file with the submitted data, but the file is accessible to anyone who can make HTTP requests to the server. The default configuration fails to implement proper access controls or encryption for these files, making them available through standard web browsing without any authentication requirements. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited using basic HTTP requests or automated tools that scan for common file paths, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users submit sensitive information through web forms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to create potential cascading security risks for organizations using FrontPage. Attackers can systematically harvest form data from multiple websites, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal identification information, financial data, or business-sensitive information that may have been submitted through various forms across different applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the fundamental security assumptions of web form processing, where users expect their submissions to be private and secure. This exposure can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, compliance violations, and reputational damage for organizations. The attack surface is extensive since any FrontPage-enabled website with default configurations is vulnerable, making this a widespread concern across legacy web applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including configuring proper file permissions on the form_results.txt files to restrict access to authorized personnel only, moving these files outside the web root directory to prevent direct HTTP access, and implementing access control lists that prevent public read access to sensitive form data storage locations. System administrators should also consider disabling the automatic form results logging feature entirely if it is not required, or implementing custom logging mechanisms with appropriate security controls. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Credential Access and T1005 for Data from Local System, demonstrating how insecure default configurations can create persistent security weaknesses. Regular security audits should verify that no sensitive form data is stored in accessible locations, and organizations should consider migrating away from legacy FrontPage solutions to modern web development platforms that implement proper security controls by default. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security baseline configurations and conducting regular penetration testing to identify similar misconfigurations in web applications.