CVE-2001-0399 in Resin
Summary
by MITRE
Caucho Resin 1.3b1 and earlier allows remote attackers to read source code for Javabean files by inserting a .jsp before the WEB-INF specifier in an HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0399 represents a critical path traversal flaw in Caucho Resin version 1.3b1 and earlier web application servers. This issue stems from improper input validation and path resolution mechanisms within the servlet container implementation. The flaw specifically manifests when processing HTTP requests containing malicious path sequences that manipulate the web application's resource access patterns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to construct specially crafted HTTP requests that manipulate the web server's path resolution logic. By inserting a .jsp extension before the WEB-INF specifier in the request URI, attackers can bypass normal access controls that typically protect sensitive application resources located within the WEB-INF directory. This directory structure is conventionally used to store server-side components, configuration files, and other sensitive resources that should remain inaccessible to end users. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal attack vector where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before using it in file system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to access sensitive source code files, configuration information, and potentially other protected resources within the web application. Javabean source files often contain business logic, database connection strings, and other sensitive implementation details that could be exploited for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the web application server by undermining the principle of least privilege and allowing unauthorized access to server-side components that should remain protected from direct user access. This represents a significant breach in the application's security boundaries and could lead to complete compromise of the web application and underlying server infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-23 Relative Path Traversal categories, which classify it as a weakness in input validation and path resolution. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1083 File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate and access sensitive files on compromised systems. The flaw demonstrates a lack of proper input sanitization and access control enforcement within the web server's request processing pipeline. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Resin, implementing proper input validation on all user-supplied paths, and configuring web server security restrictions to prevent directory traversal attempts. Additionally, application-level controls such as proper access control lists, input filtering, and security headers should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the application stack.