CVE-2002-0341 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
GWWEB.EXE in GroupWise Web Access 5.5, and possibly other versions, allows remote attackers to determine the full pathname of the web server via an HTTP request with an invalid HTMLVER parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0341 affects GWWEB.EXE component within GroupWise Web Access version 5.5 and potentially other iterations of the software. This issue represents a path disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the web server processes HTTP requests containing an invalid HTMLVER parameter. The flaw manifests as the server revealing sensitive directory path information to remote attackers through its response to malformed requests. Such path disclosure vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-209 category, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, and align with ATT&CK technique T1212 for data manipulation and T1083 for file and directory discovery.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the web server's error handling mechanism for invalid parameters within the GroupWise Web Access interface. When an HTTP request is sent to the GWWEB.EXE process with an HTMLVER parameter that does not conform to expected values, the server generates an error response that inadvertently includes the full filesystem path where the application is installed. This occurs because the error handling code does not properly sanitize or filter the error messages before returning them to the client. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to map the server's filesystem structure without requiring authentication or specific privileges, creating a reconnaissance opportunity that could lead to more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial system architecture details that can inform subsequent exploitation attempts. The disclosed path information can reveal the server's directory structure, potentially exposing sensitive locations such as configuration files, application source code, or other system components. This information can be leveraged to craft more targeted attacks, including directory traversal attempts, privilege escalation, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the system. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, as it enables unauthorized information disclosure that could compromise the overall security posture of the affected system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0341 should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the GroupWise Web Access application. System administrators should ensure that all web applications properly sanitize error messages to prevent the disclosure of internal system paths or configuration details. The solution involves modifying the GWWEB.EXE component to suppress or normalize error responses when invalid HTMLVER parameters are encountered, ensuring that error messages do not contain sensitive path information. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of vulnerable web applications to untrusted networks. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling as outlined in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly focusing on preventing information leakage through error responses and maintaining secure application architecture design principles.