CVE-2001-0297 in Simple Server
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Simple Server HTTPd 1.0 (originally Free Java Server) allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the URL.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0297 represents a classic directory traversal flaw that existed in Simple Server HTTPd version 1.0, which was originally known as Free Java Server. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The flaw allowed malicious actors to access files outside the intended web root directory by manipulating URL parameters with double dot sequences that represent parent directory references in file systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from inadequate input validation within the HTTP server's file path resolution mechanism. When a client made a request containing a URL with .. sequences, the server failed to properly sanitize or normalize the path before attempting to serve the requested file. This omission enabled attackers to construct malicious URLs that would traverse up the directory structure and access sensitive files such as configuration files, password databases, system files, or other restricted resources that should not be accessible through the web interface. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it required no authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it a high-severity issue for any system running the affected software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant for organizations that deployed Simple Server HTTPd 1.0 in production environments. Attackers could potentially gain access to critical system information, including but not limited to user credentials, application configuration details, database connection strings, and other sensitive data stored in files outside the web server's designated document root. This access could lead to further compromise of the affected system, as stolen credentials or configuration information might be used to escalate privileges or gain access to additional systems within the network. The vulnerability also posed risks to data confidentiality and integrity, as unauthorized parties could read, modify, or delete files that should remain protected. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through path traversal attacks, which are commonly used in initial compromise phases of cyber attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should have implemented immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to a newer version of the software that properly validates and sanitizes file paths. System administrators should have reviewed and restricted file access permissions to ensure that web server processes could only access designated directories. Network segmentation and firewall rules could have been implemented to limit access to the vulnerable server from untrusted networks. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should have been conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems. The incident highlighted the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, emphasizing that all user-supplied data should be carefully validated before being processed by any server application.