CVE-2001-0245 in Indexing Service
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Index Server 2.0 in Windows NT 4.0, and Indexing Service in Windows 2000, allows remote attackers to read server-side include files via a malformed search request, aka a new variant of the "Malformed Hit-Highlighting" vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2019
Microsoft Index Server 2.0 and Indexing Service in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 contain a critical information disclosure vulnerability that enables remote attackers to access server-side include files through specially crafted search requests. This vulnerability represents a variant of the well-known "Malformed Hit-Highlighting" issue that has affected various search and indexing systems. The flaw occurs when the indexing service processes malformed search queries that contain improperly formatted highlight parameters, allowing attackers to manipulate the search engine's behavior to retrieve content that should remain protected. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the search request processing pipeline, where the system fails to properly handle malformed parameters that could be used to traverse file system boundaries. This weakness specifically affects the hit-highlighting functionality that is designed to emphasize search terms within retrieved documents, but becomes exploitable when attackers craft requests that manipulate how these highlights are generated and displayed. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20 as Improper Input Validation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, as it allows unauthorized access to server-side resources through indexing service manipulation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive files including configuration data, source code, and other server-side include files that contain confidential information. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can lead to further compromise of the system through exposure of internal configurations, authentication mechanisms, or application logic that could be used in subsequent attacks. This vulnerability affects organizations running legacy Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 systems where Index Server 2.0 or Indexing Service components are deployed. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be performed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for systems that are exposed to untrusted networks. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, firewall rules, and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability. Additionally, patching with Microsoft security updates or migrating to supported operating systems represents the most effective mitigation strategy. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web-based services and highlights how seemingly benign features like hit-highlighting can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed inputs. This issue underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of indexing and search functionalities, particularly in legacy systems where security updates may no longer be available. The attack vector specifically targets the search service's handling of highlight parameters, where improper sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious content that bypasses normal file access controls and retrieves unauthorized files from the server's file system.