CVE-2003-0016 in HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Apache before 2.0.44, when running on unpatched Windows 9x and Me operating systems, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request containing MS-DOS device names.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2025
This vulnerability exists in Apache HTTP Server versions prior to 2.0.44 when operating on Windows 9x and Windows ME systems. The flaw stems from the server's improper handling of MS-DOS device names in HTTP requests, which are special filenames used by the Windows operating system to access hardware devices and system resources. These device names include CON PRN AUX NUL COM1 COM2 COM3 COM4 COM5 COM6 COM7 COM8 COM9 LPT1 LPT2 LPT3 LPT4 LPT5 LPT6 LPT7 LPT8 LPT9 and others that have special meanings within the Windows file system. When Apache receives an HTTP request containing these device names, it processes them through the Windows file system without proper validation, creating a path traversal and privilege escalation vulnerability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental differences between Unix-like and Windows file system handling mechanisms. On Windows 9x and ME systems, the server attempts to resolve these device names as if they were regular file paths, which can lead to unexpected behavior in the file system layer. Attackers can craft HTTP requests that include these device names in the URL path, causing the server to attempt operations on system resources that should be protected. This misconfiguration allows malicious actors to either cause the Apache server to crash through malformed requests, resulting in denial of service, or potentially execute arbitrary code by leveraging the server's interaction with Windows system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the Windows 9x and ME operating systems because these platforms handle device names differently than modern Windows versions, and the older Apache versions did not implement proper sanitization of input containing these special characters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running legacy Apache installations on Windows 9x or ME systems. The denial of service aspect can render web services unavailable to legitimate users, potentially causing business disruption and revenue loss. More critically, the arbitrary code execution capability provides attackers with a potential foothold for further compromise of the affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-78 Command Injection categories, representing a classic case of insufficient input validation in a server application. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it leverages the inherent weaknesses of legacy operating systems, where the server software does not properly account for the special handling of device names by the underlying OS. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, making it a valuable target for both casual and sophisticated attackers.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to Apache 2.0.44 or later versions, which contain proper input validation for device names in HTTP requests. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper network segmentation to isolate legacy systems, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious device name patterns in HTTP requests, and applying the latest security patches to all Apache installations. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling unnecessary HTTP methods and implementing strict input validation at the application level to prevent similar issues in other software components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and avoiding the deployment of legacy operating systems in production environments, as these platforms often contain unpatched security flaws that can be easily exploited by attackers. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Apache versions and ensure that proper security controls are implemented to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.