CVE-2001-0987 in CGIWrap
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in CGIWrap before 3.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Javascript on other web clients by causing the Javascript to be inserted into error messages that are generated by CGIWrap.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0987 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the CGIWrap utility, a widely used server-side application for handling cgi scripts on web servers. This vulnerability specifically affects CGIWrap versions prior to 3.7 and demonstrates a critical weakness in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious javascript code into error messages generated by the application, creating a persistent vector for executing unauthorized scripts on victim browsers. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack chain where malicious input is processed by CGIWrap and subsequently rendered in error messages without proper sanitization, enabling attackers to manipulate the application's error reporting functionality to serve malicious payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the CGIWrap error handling mechanism. When CGIWrap encounters problematic input during script execution, it generates error messages that include the raw input data without proper HTML escaping or encoding. This creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the application, become embedded within error messages displayed to other users. The vulnerability manifests as a type of reflected cross-site scripting where the malicious script is not stored server-side but rather injected into error messages that are dynamically generated and displayed to other users. This attack vector aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from insufficient output encoding and improper input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential for more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When victims browse to pages that trigger the vulnerable error messages, their browsers execute the injected javascript code in the context of the vulnerable web application, potentially allowing attackers to access session cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects any web server running CGIWrap versions before 3.7 and is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same application, as the malicious scripts can propagate to numerous victims through the error message display mechanism. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers seeking to maximize their impact with minimal effort.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0987 require immediate patching of CGIWrap installations to version 3.7 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation at all points where user data enters the system, ensuring that all input is properly escaped before being incorporated into error messages or any other output contexts. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious javascript payloads, while also establishing proper logging and monitoring to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 highlights its potential for initial access through malicious web content, emphasizing the need for robust web application security practices including regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other applications. Additionally, security teams should implement proper error handling practices that prevent raw user input from appearing in error messages, thereby eliminating the attack surface that enables this particular vulnerability.