CVE-2004-2121 in Web Server For Corel Paradox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in Borland Web Server (BWS) 1.0b3 and earlier allow remote attackers to read and download arbitrary files via (1) multi-dot "......" sequences, or (2) "%5c%2e%2e" (encoded "\..") sequences, in the URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2121 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in Borland Web Server version 1.0b3 and earlier installations. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the web server's URL parsing mechanism, allowing malicious actors to exploit path traversal techniques to access files outside the intended web root directory. The vulnerability specifically affects how the server processes encoded and decoded directory navigation sequences, creating pathways for unauthorized file access that could expose sensitive system information, configuration files, and potentially confidential data stored on the server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary methods that leverage different encoding approaches to bypass directory restrictions. The first method utilizes multi-dot sequences such as ". ... ." which the server fails to properly sanitize, allowing attackers to navigate upward through directory structures using multiple dots combined with forward slashes. The second approach employs URL encoding techniques where "%5c%2e%2e" sequences represent the encoded form of "\..", effectively bypassing the server's path validation logic. Both approaches demonstrate the server's insufficient filtering of potentially malicious path components, enabling attackers to craft requests that traverse the file system beyond the designated web content boundaries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on affected Borland Web Server installations. Attackers can exploit these traversal flaws to access sensitive files including configuration files, database files, source code repositories, and potentially system credentials stored in accessible locations. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web servers. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise through access to critical system files, application configuration details, or sensitive data repositories that might contain user credentials or business-critical information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of Borland Web Server or applying the appropriate security patches released by the vendor. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and URL filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all web server installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal weakness category and represents a classic example of improper input validation that enables path traversal attacks, which are catalogued in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Path Traversal" within the credential access and defense evasion domains. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future software deployments.