CVE-2001-0778 in OmniHTTPD
Summary
by MITRE
OmniHTTPd 2.0.8 and earlier allow remote attackers to obtain source code via a GET request with the URL-encoded symbol for a space (%20).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0778 affects OmniHTTPd version 2.0.8 and earlier, representing a significant security flaw in web server software that enables remote attackers to access sensitive source code files. This issue stems from improper handling of URL-encoded characters within the web server's request processing mechanism, specifically targeting the space character representation %20. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal or directory traversal weakness that allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the OmniHTTPd web server fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming URL requests containing encoded space characters. When a remote attacker sends a GET request with %20 in the URL, the server incorrectly processes this input and may interpret it as a request for files in unintended directories. This misconfiguration allows the web server to serve source code files or other sensitive information that should not be publicly accessible. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal effort to exploit and can potentially reveal complete source code repositories, configuration files, or other critical system information.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using affected OmniHTTPd versions, as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive source code that may contain hardcoded credentials, database connection strings, application logic, or other proprietary information. The exploitation process is straightforward and can be automated, making it attractive to malicious actors seeking to gather intelligence for further attacks. The vulnerability also represents a violation of the principle of least privilege, as it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially escalate their privileges within the affected system.
Security practitioners should address this vulnerability through immediate patching of affected OmniHTTPd installations to version 2.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper URL handling. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms can help prevent similar issues in other applications. Organizations should also consider network-level mitigations such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious URL patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, highlighting the importance of proper access controls and input validation in preventing unauthorized information disclosure.
The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been fully addressed without introducing new issues. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their web server configurations to identify any other potential path traversal vulnerabilities that may exist within their infrastructure. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to proactively identify similar weaknesses in other web applications and services that may be susceptible to similar exploitation techniques.