CVE-2006-0816 in Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Orion Application Server before 2.0.7, when running on Windows, allows remote attackers to obtain the source code of JSP files via (1) . (dot) and (2) space characters in the extension of a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0816 affects the Orion Application Server version 2.0.6 and earlier when operating on Microsoft Windows platforms. This security flaw represents a directory traversal attack vector that exploits improper input validation in the server's handling of Uniform Resource Locators. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers manipulate URL extensions by incorporating dot characters and space characters, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive server-side resources. The Orion Application Server, which serves as a web application container, fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input in the URL path components, creating an exploitable condition that bypasses normal access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of file extension parameters within the server's request processing pipeline. When a malicious user crafts a URL containing dot characters or space characters in the extension portion, the server's file resolution mechanism incorrectly interprets these inputs, allowing access to files outside the intended web root directory. This behavior occurs because the server does not properly canonicalize or normalize the requested file paths before attempting to serve the content. The flaw essentially enables attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access JSP source code files that should remain protected within the server's secure boundaries. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it exposes sensitive source code to unauthorized parties, potentially revealing application logic, database connection strings, authentication mechanisms, and other proprietary code elements. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain insights into the application architecture, identify potential additional vulnerabilities, and develop more sophisticated attack strategies. The exposure of JSP source code specifically compromises the confidentiality of server-side applications, as these files often contain sensitive information such as hardcoded credentials, business logic implementations, and configuration details. Furthermore, the vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the web application by providing attackers with information that could be used to launch subsequent attacks or exploit other weaknesses within the system. The Windows-specific nature of this vulnerability suggests it may be related to how the server handles file system path resolution on Microsoft operating systems, potentially involving Windows-specific path parsing or normalization functions that do not properly handle special characters.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Orion Application Server version 2.0.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the directory traversal issue. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing URL filtering mechanisms at the network level to prevent access to suspicious URL patterns containing dot or space characters in file extensions. The implementation of proper input validation and sanitization should be enforced at all levels of the application stack, with specific attention to URL parameter handling and file path resolution. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual access patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, particularly focusing on requests containing unusual path characters or attempts to access files outside the expected application directory structure. Organizations should also review their application deployment practices to ensure that source code files are not accessible through the web server and that proper access controls are in place to prevent unauthorized file system traversal. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and information gathering through path traversal methods.