CVE-2003-1287 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
Sambar Server before 6.0 beta 3 allows attackers with physical access to execute arbitrary code via a request with an MS-DOS device name such as com1.pl, con.pl, or aux.pl, which causes Perl to read the code from the associated device.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1287 represents a critical security flaw in Sambar Server versions prior to 6.0 beta 3 that demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how operating system device names can be exploited in web server contexts. This vulnerability specifically leverages the Windows MS-DOS device naming convention where certain reserved names such as com1.pl, con.pl, and aux.pl correspond to actual hardware devices within the operating system. When these device names are processed by the web server as file requests, the server attempts to read the content from the associated physical device rather than treating them as regular file paths, creating an unexpected execution path that attackers can exploit.
The technical exploitation mechanism relies on the fact that Windows operating systems maintain special device names that map to actual hardware components or system interfaces. When Sambar Server processes a request for files with these device names, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before attempting to access the file system. The Perl interpreter within the server environment then attempts to read from these device handles, which can result in code execution if the server is configured to execute Perl scripts from the directory containing these device names. This behavior stems from the server's lack of proper input validation and its failure to recognize that certain file path requests should be treated as system device references rather than regular file access requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe when attackers have physical access to the system, as they can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. This type of attack falls under the category of privilege escalation and code injection, where the attacker can potentially gain full control over the server and access sensitive data or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data, which is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Perl" where attackers leverage scripting languages to execute malicious code.
The security implications extend beyond simple code execution, as this vulnerability represents a failure in the server's security model to properly handle edge cases in file path resolution. Organizations running affected versions of Sambar Server face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compromise of their entire web infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges for exploitation and can be triggered through simple HTTP requests that target these specific device names. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 6.0 beta 3 or later, implementation of proper input validation and sanitization for all file path requests, and configuration of the web server to reject or properly handle these special device names. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit physical access to web server systems, as this vulnerability specifically requires physical access to be exploited effectively.