CVE-2001-1026 in Interscan Applettrap
Summary
by MITRE
Trend Micro InterScan AppletTrap 2.0 does not properly filter URLs when they are modified in certain ways such as (1) using a double slash (//) instead of a single slash, (2) URL-encoded characters, (3) requesting the IP address instead of the domain name, or (4) using a leading 0 in an octet of an IP address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2014
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2001-1026 affects Trend Micro InterScan AppletTrap 2.0, a security solution designed to protect against malicious applets and web-based threats. This flaw represents a classic input validation weakness that can be exploited to bypass security controls through carefully crafted URL modifications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of URL components during the processing of web requests, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through specific URL formatting techniques. The affected system fails to properly normalize and validate URL structures, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that can circumvent the intended security protections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves several specific URL manipulation techniques that exploit the application's insufficient filtering mechanisms. When URLs contain double slashes instead of single slashes, or when they utilize URL-encoded characters, the application fails to properly interpret these inputs and may treat them as legitimate requests. Additionally, the system does not adequately handle requests where IP addresses are used in place of domain names, or where IP address octets contain leading zeros that could be interpreted differently by various network components. These URL modifications can cause the application to follow unexpected paths through its code execution, potentially leading to unauthorized access or execution of malicious content. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to perform path traversal or resource access attacks by exploiting the application's failure to properly normalize URL inputs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypasses, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. Attackers can leverage these URL manipulation techniques to access restricted resources that should normally be protected by the InterScan AppletTrap security controls. The vulnerability affects the application's core functionality in URL handling, which is fundamental to its operation as a web-based security solution. This creates a dangerous scenario where the security tool itself becomes a potential attack vector, undermining the trust placed in the system by administrators and users who rely on it for protection. The impact is particularly severe given that this vulnerability exists in a security product designed to prevent such attacks, creating a paradoxical situation where the defensive mechanism can be subverted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1026 should focus on implementing robust URL normalization and validation mechanisms within the application. Organizations should ensure that all URL inputs are properly sanitized and normalized before processing, with particular attention to handling double slashes, URL-encoded characters, and IP address representations. The solution involves implementing comprehensive input validation that enforces strict URL parsing rules and rejects malformed or suspicious URL structures. Security practitioners should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unusual URL patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and relates to ATT&CK techniques involving URL manipulation and path traversal. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of InterScan AppletTrap or implementing compensating controls that can detect and prevent the specific URL manipulation patterns described in the vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that URL normalization does not break legitimate functionality while effectively blocking the malicious input patterns.