CVE-2000-0124 in SuperScout
Summary
by MITRE
surfCONTROL SuperScout does not properly asign a category to web sites with a . (dot) at the end, which may allow users to bypass web access restrictions.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0124 affects surfCONTROL SuperScout, a web content filtering solution designed to enforce access policies and restrict user access to specific categories of websites. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in the product's URL parsing and categorization logic, where the system fails to properly handle domain names ending with a dot character. The issue stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the web filtering engine, creating a pathway for malicious users to circumvent established access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the domain name resolution and categorization layer of the surfCONTROL SuperScout system. When a web request is processed, the software examines the domain name to determine its category and apply appropriate access restrictions. However, when a domain name ends with a dot character, the system's parsing algorithm does not correctly interpret this format, resulting in an incorrect category assignment. This misclassification allows users to access restricted websites by simply appending a dot to the target domain name, effectively bypassing the intended filtering mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on surfCONTROL SuperScout for network security and compliance. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access blocked content such as malicious websites, inappropriate material, or restricted corporate resources. The impact extends beyond simple bypass attempts as it undermines the fundamental security posture of the filtering solution, potentially exposing networks to various cyber threats including malware delivery, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations may experience regulatory compliance violations if they fail to maintain proper access controls, particularly in environments governed by standards such as pci dss or hipaa.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-170, focusing on improper handling of input that may cause issues with string operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS, and T1566 for phishing, as it enables attackers to bypass security controls and gain access to restricted resources. The flaw also relates to privilege escalation and lateral movement opportunities that attackers might exploit to expand their access within the network.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the surfCONTROL SuperScout software to address the URL parsing logic. Organizations should implement additional network-level controls such as DNS filtering and proxy server configurations to provide layered protection against this specific bypass technique. Network administrators should conduct thorough audits of their web filtering policies and regularly test for similar vulnerabilities in other security controls. Configuration hardening measures including stricter input validation for domain names and enhanced logging of suspicious access attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions can provide visibility into potential bypass attempts and aid in incident response efforts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security tools and systems.