CVE-2002-0074 in IIS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Help File search facility for Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0, 5.0 and 5.1 allows remote attackers to embed scripts into another user s session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0074 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the help file search functionality of Microsoft Internet Information Server versions 4.0, 5.0, and 5.1. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web server's help system component that processes user input for search queries. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the help file search interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web responses that are subsequently executed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, making it susceptible to various client-side attack vectors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious search query containing embedded script code that gets processed and returned within the help file search results page. When a victim accesses the affected search results, their browser executes the injected script within the context of their authenticated session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the legitimate help system functionality, making it difficult for security controls to distinguish between benign and malicious content. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-0074 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attacks including session manipulation, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the context of the victim's browser session. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions that the authenticated user is authorized to execute. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of IIS, increasing its potential attack surface and making it particularly dangerous for organizations running legacy web server infrastructure. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the server's input sanitization processes and highlights the importance of proper output encoding for dynamic web content.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding of search results, and deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious content. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user input before processing and ensuring that any dynamic content returned to users is properly escaped to prevent script execution. Security patches from Microsoft should be applied immediately to address the root cause of the vulnerability, as the affected IIS versions are no longer supported and lack modern security features. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of help file access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive security testing for web applications and the critical need for proper input validation and output encoding practices that align with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.