CVE-2002-2273 in Webster Http Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Webster HTTP Server allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URL.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2019
The CVE-2002-2273 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Webster HTTP Server, a web server implementation that was widely used in the early 2000s. This vulnerability specifically resides in the server's handling of URL parameters, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is reflected back to client browsers. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for web applications relying on this server software.
This vulnerability manifests as a type of XSS attack where the Webster HTTP Server does not adequately filter or escape special characters in URL parameters before processing them. When a malicious user crafts a URL containing script code within its parameters, the server fails to properly validate or sanitize this input, allowing the injected code to be executed when the URL is accessed by other users. The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of web content. When users navigate to a malicious URL containing injected scripts, their browsers execute the malicious code within the security context of the vulnerable web application, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive information or manipulate user sessions. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on script-based attacks that leverage web application flaws. The attack surface is particularly broad as it affects any web application using the Webster HTTP Server, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining legacy web infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2273 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code from being executed. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed or returned to clients, implementing strict validation rules that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters. The solution involves configuring the Webster HTTP Server to perform comprehensive input filtering and output encoding, which aligns with defensive techniques outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded, thereby limiting the impact of successful XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other web applications and servers, ensuring comprehensive protection against script injection attacks.