CVE-2010-2263 in nginx
Summary
by MITRE
nginx 0.8 before 0.8.40 and 0.7 before 0.7.66, when running on Windows, allows remote attackers to obtain source code or unparsed content of arbitrary files under the web document root by appending ::$DATA to the URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
This vulnerability affects nginx web servers running on Microsoft Windows platforms and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that emerged in versions prior to specific patches. The vulnerability stems from how nginx handles file access requests on Windows systems, creating an unexpected pathway for attackers to retrieve sensitive source code and unparsed content from the web document root directory. The flaw specifically manifests when attackers append the special Windows NTFS alternate data stream suffix ::$DATA to any URI request, enabling them to bypass normal file access controls and directly access file contents that should otherwise remain protected.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the interaction between nginx's file handling routines and Windows NTFS file system features. When nginx processes a request containing the ::$DATA suffix, it inadvertently triggers a path traversal behavior that allows access to the primary data stream of files, effectively exposing source code files, configuration files, and other sensitive content that resides within the web document root. This behavior occurs because Windows NTFS supports alternate data streams, and the ::$DATA suffix specifically targets the primary data stream of files, bypassing standard access controls that would normally prevent such unauthorized access. The vulnerability is particularly severe because it affects both major release branches of nginx, indicating a fundamental flaw in the Windows-specific file access implementation rather than a minor bug.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers can potentially extract complete source code repositories, database connection strings, API keys, and other sensitive configuration data that could lead to further exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-552 Files or directories accessible by unauthorized users, representing a classic example of inadequate input validation and improper access control implementation. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be executed through simple HTTP requests, making it highly exploitable in automated scanning campaigns. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1213 Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries attempt to extract sensitive data from web applications and servers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected nginx installations to versions 0.7.66 or 0.8.40 and later, which contain the necessary fixes to prevent the improper handling of the ::$DATA suffix. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting file permissions on web document root directories, implementing web application firewalls to block suspicious URI patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential path traversal vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit exposure of web servers to untrusted networks, while security monitoring should be configured to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of platform-specific security considerations in web server implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive testing across different operating systems to prevent similar issues in the future.