CVE-2008-0075 in IIS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.1 through 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted inputs to ASP pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
Microsoft Internet Information Services versions 5.1 through 6.0 contain an unspecified vulnerability that creates a critical security exposure allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through malformed inputs directed to active server pages. This vulnerability represents a significant compromise in the web server's security architecture and falls under the category of remote code execution flaws that can be exploited without authentication. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that the underlying technical flaw may involve multiple potential attack vectors or that the specific mechanism was not fully disclosed during the initial vulnerability assessment. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of web applications hosted on affected IIS servers, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious input strings that are processed by the ASP engine within IIS, which then leads to code execution in the context of the web server process. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow or injection vulnerability that could be leveraged through HTTP requests containing specially crafted parameters, headers, or file contents. The vulnerability affects the core ASP processing functionality that handles dynamic content generation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through normal web browsing activities. Attackers may utilize this vulnerability to upload malicious files, execute system commands, or establish persistent backdoors on the compromised servers. The attack surface is broad since ASP pages are commonly used for dynamic web content and form processing, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise web infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. Organizations running affected IIS versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive data, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication. This exposure creates a high-risk environment where multiple web applications could be simultaneously compromised, leading to widespread service disruption and potential regulatory violations. The vulnerability also impacts the overall security posture of organizations, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with a foothold for further reconnaissance and attacks on internal network resources. According to the attack tactics framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques categorized under privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers can establish long-term access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application from Microsoft, as the company released specific security updates to address the flaw in affected IIS versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to web servers and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary ASP features, implementing strict input validation, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper configuration management as outlined in industry standards such as the CWE taxonomy for software vulnerabilities. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious requests that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be exploited through standard web traffic patterns. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the organization's web infrastructure.