CVE-2000-0122 in Frontpage
Summary
by MITRE
Frontpage Server Extensions allows remote attackers to determine the physical path of a virtual directory via a GET request to the htimage.exe CGI program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0122 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Frontpage Server Extensions version 2000. This security weakness specifically affects the htimage.exe CGI program that is part of the Frontpage Server Extensions suite, which was widely deployed on web servers to provide web authoring and publishing capabilities. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and path handling within the CGI executable, creating an avenue for remote attackers to extract sensitive system information through crafted HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a simple GET request to the htimage.exe CGI program that triggers a path traversal behavior in the server extension. When the CGI component processes the request, it fails to properly sanitize user input, allowing the attacker to inject specific parameters that cause the application to reveal the physical file system path where the virtual directory is mapped. This occurs because the program does not adequately validate or filter the input parameters before using them in file system operations, creating a direct path exposure mechanism that can be exploited without authentication. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust placed in the Frontpage Server Extensions components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked physical paths can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can use the revealed directory structures to map the server's file system layout, identify sensitive files, and plan subsequent exploitation attempts. The exposure of physical paths enables attackers to craft more targeted attacks against other vulnerable components within the same server environment. This information disclosure can also facilitate directory traversal attacks, where attackers use the knowledge of the physical path structure to access files outside of the intended web root directory. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability directly maps to the weakness of information exposure, while the attack pattern aligns with TTPs identified in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under initial access and reconnaissance phases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the root cause within the Frontpage Server Extensions implementation. The most effective remediation involves either completely removing the Frontpage Server Extensions from affected servers or applying the appropriate Microsoft security patches that address the input validation issues in the htimage.exe component. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the CGI programs and consider disabling unnecessary server extensions that expose internal system information. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other server components, ensuring that proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms are in place throughout the application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper parameter validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles.