CVE-2010-2320 in bozohttpd
Summary
by MITRE
bozotic HTTP server (aka bozohttpd) before 20100621 allows remote attackers to list the contents of home directories, and determine the existence of user accounts, via multiple requests for URIs beginning with /~ sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2320 affects the bozotic HTTP server implementation known as bozohttpd, specifically versions prior to the 20100621 release. This represents a critical directory traversal and information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to access sensitive system information through crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the server's URI handling logic, allowing unauthorized enumeration of user home directories and account existence verification.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through specifically crafted HTTP requests targeting URIs that begin with the tilde (~) character sequence. When processing these requests, the bozohttpd server fails to properly validate or sanitize the input paths, resulting in directory traversal behavior that allows attackers to navigate to user home directories. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the server's file system access controls, enabling attackers to enumerate directory contents and verify user account existence without proper authentication. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as "Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')" and aligns with CWE-200 which addresses "Information Exposure" through improper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable further exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage the ability to enumerate user accounts and home directory structures to plan more sophisticated attacks, including targeted credential harvesting, social engineering operations, or privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where user account enumeration could lead to account takeover or privilege escalation, as the exposure of user directories may reveal sensitive files, configuration information, or other system artifacts that could aid in subsequent compromise efforts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 "File and Directory Discovery" and T1078 "Valid Accounts" as attackers can use the information gathered to establish persistent access and conduct reconnaissance activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected bozohttpd server implementation to version 20100621 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and access control fixes. Organizations should implement proper URI sanitization and path validation mechanisms that prevent traversal beyond designated directories, including the implementation of strict access control lists that limit file system access to authorized users only. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the HTTP server from untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect and alert on suspicious URI patterns that match the vulnerable ~ character sequence. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough audits of user account structures and implement proper account management policies to minimize the impact of information exposure from such vulnerabilities.