CVE-2001-0626 in Website Professional
Summary
by MITRE
O Reilly Website Professional 2.5.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to determine the physical path to the root directory via a URL request containing a ":" character.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0626 represents a classic path disclosure issue affecting O Reilly Website Professional versions 2.5.4 and earlier. This flaw allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about the server's file system structure by manipulating URL requests through the inclusion of a colon character. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the web application's request processing mechanism, specifically when handling malformed URL components that contain special characters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way the affected web server software processes URLs containing colon characters in their path components. When a request is made with a URL containing a colon, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing it, resulting in the exposure of the physical directory path where the web application is installed. This occurs because the software's error handling routine inadvertently reveals internal file system paths when it encounters unexpected URL structures, particularly those containing special characters like colons that are not properly escaped or filtered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. Knowledge of the physical path structure enables threat actors to better understand the server environment, potentially identifying other vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the application's configuration. This information disclosure can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as local file inclusion exploits, directory traversal attempts, or other privilege escalation techniques that rely on understanding the underlying file system structure. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper error handling, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of software vulnerabilities.
Organizations using affected versions of O Reilly Website Professional should immediately implement mitigations including input validation for URL parameters, proper error handling that does not reveal system information, and regular updates to the software. The recommended approach involves configuring the web server to sanitize all incoming URL components, particularly those containing special characters, and ensuring that error messages do not expose internal system paths. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and error handling practices, which are fundamental requirements in secure software development and align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security assessments and patch management procedures should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other web applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.