CVE-2000-1114 in eWave ServletExec
Summary
by MITRE
Unify ServletExec AS v3.0C allows remote attackers to read source code for JSP pages via an HTTP request that ends with characters such as ".", or "+", or "%20".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-1114 affects Unify ServletExec Application Server version 3.0C, representing a critical security flaw in web application server software that was prevalent during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This issue stems from improper handling of file path requests within the servlet container, specifically when processing requests that contain certain trailing characters. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive source code files from the server, potentially exposing proprietary code, business logic, and other confidential information that should remain protected within the application's internal structure.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the application server's failure to properly validate and sanitize incoming HTTP requests that contain specific character sequences such as periods, plus signs, or URL-encoded spaces. When an attacker crafts a request ending with these characters, the server's file resolution mechanism becomes susceptible to path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This occurs because the web server or servlet container does not adequately filter or normalize the request parameters before attempting to resolve the requested resource, allowing malicious input to manipulate the file system access patterns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on the affected application server platform. The exposure of JSP source code provides attackers with detailed insights into the application's architecture, database connection strings, business logic implementations, and potentially sensitive configuration parameters. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked source code could facilitate more sophisticated attacks including exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the application, social engineering attacks, or direct code reuse for targeted attacks against similar systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe given the nature of web application servers and their typical deployment environments. Organizations running this version of ServletExec would be exposed to attacks that could compromise not only individual applications but potentially entire server infrastructures if the vulnerability allows access to system-level files or configuration data. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the server, making it particularly dangerous in environments where servers are accessible from the internet.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching or upgrading to a newer version of the ServletExec application server that properly implements input validation and sanitization. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the affected server, deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, and conduct comprehensive source code reviews to identify other potential path traversal vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and file permissions can help reduce the impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in web application servers, particularly those that handle dynamic content generation through technologies such as java server pages.