CVE-2004-0281 in Resin
Summary
by MITRE
Caucho Technology Resin 2.1.12 allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information and view the contents of the /WEB-INF/ directory via an HTTP request for "WEB-INF..", which is equivalent to "WEB-INF" in Windows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
This vulnerability exists in Caucho Technology Resin version 2.1.12, a Java-based web application server that serves as a servlet container and web server. The flaw represents a directory traversal attack vector that allows remote attackers to access sensitive files and directories that should normally be protected from external access. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an attacker crafts an HTTP request using the path component "WEB-INF..", which resolves to the same location as "WEB-INF" on Windows operating systems due to how the Windows file system handles path resolution with the dot character. This behavior creates a discrepancy between how the application processes path requests and how Windows interprets these paths, enabling unauthorized access to protected resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way Resin handles URL decoding and path normalization on Windows systems. When the application receives a request containing "WEB-INF..", the Windows file system interprets this as a reference to the WEB-INF directory, allowing access to configuration files, source code, and other sensitive information that should remain hidden from public access. This issue is particularly dangerous because the WEB-INF directory in Java web applications typically contains critical configuration files such as web.xml, application context files, and potentially database connection details or other sensitive deployment information. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and path handling within the application server's request processing pipeline, which fails to properly sanitize or normalize URL paths before attempting to resolve them against the file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive application data. Attackers can potentially extract application source code, configuration files containing database credentials, session information, and other confidential data that could lead to further exploitation or system compromise. The vulnerability affects any environment running Resin 2.1.12 on Windows systems where the application server processes HTTP requests with potentially malicious path components. This represents a critical security flaw that directly violates the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to escalate their privileges or gain complete control over the affected web application and potentially the underlying system.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of Resin that properly handles path normalization and URL decoding, implementing proper input validation on all HTTP requests, and configuring the application server to reject or sanitize potentially malicious path components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests containing directory traversal patterns. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict file system permissions for web application directories, ensuring that sensitive files are not accessible through the web server. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, representing a common attack pattern that leverages improper input validation to gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The issue also demonstrates the importance of understanding platform-specific path handling behaviors when developing security controls for multi-platform applications.