CVE-2001-0674 in Viking Server
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in RobTex Viking Web server before 1.07-381 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a hexadecimal encoded dot-dot attack (eg. http://www.server.com/%2e%2e/%2e%2e) in an HTTP URL request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0674 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the RobTex Viking Web server software prior to version 1.07-381. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server's file access handling routines, specifically failing to properly sanitize or normalize URL-encoded sequences that represent directory navigation attempts. The vulnerability manifests when the server processes HTTP requests containing hexadecimal encoded dot-dot sequences such as %2e%2e which decode to .. characters used to traverse directory structures. This particular implementation flaw allows attackers to bypass normal file access restrictions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, or other restricted resources that should remain protected from external access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted HTTP requests that leverage URL encoding to disguise directory traversal attempts. When the RobTex Viking Web server processes these requests, it fails to properly validate or normalize the incoming URL parameters, allowing the encoded .. sequences to be interpreted as legitimate directory navigation commands. This weakness falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a fundamental security issue in web application design. The vulnerability enables attackers to construct malicious URLs that can traverse the file system hierarchy and access files outside of the intended web root directory, potentially leading to information disclosure, system compromise, or further exploitation opportunities.
The operational impact of this directory traversal vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access critical system files that may contain sensitive data such as configuration parameters, database connection strings, or authentication credentials. In the context of web server security, this vulnerability represents a significant risk because it can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication or privileged access to the system. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be executed through standard web browser requests, making it accessible to any attacker with basic knowledge of URL encoding and web server exploitation techniques. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as it enables adversaries to discover and extract sensitive information from compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0674 should focus on implementing proper input validation and normalization procedures within the web server's request processing pipeline. Organizations should immediately upgrade to RobTex Viking Web server version 1.07-381 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this directory traversal vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input sanitization measures that reject or normalize URL-encoded sequences containing directory traversal patterns, particularly those involving double dot sequences. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring and blocking suspicious URL patterns. The implementation of proper access controls and the principle of least privilege should also be enforced to minimize the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and URL requests containing potentially malicious encoding sequences, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's detection recommendations for directory traversal attacks.