CVE-2011-2159 in SmarterStats
Summary
by MITRE
The SmarterTools SmarterStats 6.0 web server omits the Content-Type header for certain resources, which might allow remote attackers to have an unspecified impact by leveraging an interpretation conflict involving (1) Admin/Defaults/frmDefaultSiteSettings.aspx, (2) Admin/Defaults/frmServerDefaults.aspx, (3) Admin/frmReportSettings.aspx, (4) Admin/frmSite.aspx, (5) App_Themes/Default/ButtonBarIcons.xml, (6) App_Themes/Default/Skin.xml, (7) Client/frmImportSettings.aspx, (8) Client/frmSeoSettings.aspx, (9) Services/Web.config, (10) aspnet_client/system_web/4_0_30319/, (11) clientaccesspolicy.xml, (12) cloudscan.exe, (13) crossdomain.xml, or (14) sitemap.xml. NOTE: it is possible that only clients, not the SmarterStats product, could be affected by this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2159 affects the SmarterTools SmarterStats 6.0 web server implementation where specific resources fail to include the Content-Type header in HTTP responses. This omission creates a security risk that could be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate how web clients interpret and process the returned content. The affected resources span across multiple administrative interfaces and configuration files including default site settings, server defaults, report settings, and various xml configuration files within the application's directory structure. The vulnerability specifically impacts resources such as frmDefaultSiteSettings.aspx, frmServerDefaults.aspx, and several xml files in the App_Themes directory, as well as service configuration files and client access policies. This issue represents a classic web server misconfiguration that can lead to various security implications through interpretation conflicts between the server and client applications.
The technical flaw stems from the web server's failure to properly set the Content-Type HTTP header for certain resources, which creates ambiguity in how browsers and other HTTP clients process the returned data. Without explicit Content-Type specification, clients may attempt to determine the appropriate handling method through content inspection or default assumptions, potentially leading to security implications. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-665 category of improper initialization and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. The missing Content-Type header creates an interpretation conflict where browsers might treat the content as executable script code or attempt to process it in unexpected ways, potentially enabling cross-site scripting or other injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web server misconfiguration to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks against the targeted system. Remote attackers could exploit this weakness to manipulate how the web application processes requests, potentially leading to unauthorized access to administrative functions or data manipulation. The vulnerability affects multiple components of the SmarterStats application including administrative interfaces and configuration files, suggesting a systemic issue with the web server's response handling. Attackers could leverage this to bypass security controls or manipulate the application's behavior through carefully crafted requests that take advantage of the ambiguous content type handling. The potential for unspecified impact indicates that the consequences could range from simple information disclosure to more serious privilege escalation or denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper HTTP response header management within the SmarterStats web server configuration. Organizations should ensure that all web resources return appropriate Content-Type headers that accurately describe the nature of the content being served, including text/html for web pages, application/xml for xml files, and appropriate binary content types for executable files. The fix should involve modifying the web server configuration or application code to explicitly set Content-Type headers for all response objects, particularly for the identified vulnerable resources. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls and security monitoring to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure. This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper HTTP header implementation and aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and OWASP Top Ten security controls for web application security.