CVE-2003-0824 in FrontPage Server Extensions
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in the SmartHTML interpreter (shtml.dll) in Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 and 2002, and Microsoft SharePoint Team Services 2002, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (response failure) via a certain request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0824 resides within the SmartHTML interpreter component known as shtml.dll which forms part of Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 and 2002, as well as Microsoft SharePoint Team Services 2002. This represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates the inherent risks associated with server-side web application components that process user input without adequate validation mechanisms. The SmartHTML interpreter was designed to handle dynamic content generation and server-side includes, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its role in processing web requests that could potentially contain malicious payloads.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that occurs when remote attackers submit specially crafted requests to the affected server components. This flaw specifically affects the shtml.dll module which processes SmartHTML requests, and the vulnerability exploits a weakness in how the interpreter handles certain input sequences or request structures. The mechanism behind this vulnerability aligns with common software design patterns where insufficient input validation leads to resource exhaustion or state corruption that ultimately results in service unavailability. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would be categorized under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation, and potentially CWE-400, which covers unspecified denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of entire web applications hosted on affected servers. When exploited successfully, attackers can cause the affected server processes to fail or become unresponsive, leading to complete denial of service for legitimate users attempting to access the web services. This type of vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on older Microsoft server technologies, where the FrontPage Server Extensions were commonly deployed for content management and web publishing purposes. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or specialized privileges, making it accessible to any remote user who can submit requests to the vulnerable server, thus representing a significant risk to web infrastructure availability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems through Microsoft security updates, as well as implementing network-level protections such as firewall rules that restrict access to the vulnerable components. Organizations should also consider disabling the FrontPage Server Extensions if they are not actively required for business operations, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK framework tactics related to defense evasion and resource exhaustion, where the vulnerability represents a specific technique for causing system unavailability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation mechanisms at the application level and conducting regular security assessments of legacy web server components can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with running outdated server technologies in production environments.