CVE-2013-2181 in HTTP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Directory Listing plugin in Monkey HTTP Daemon (monkeyd) 1.2.2 allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a file name.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2181 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Directory Listing plugin of Monkey HTTP Daemon version 1.2.2. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. The vulnerability specifically affects the directory listing functionality where file names are displayed without adequate sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly through file names.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker uploads or creates a file with a malicious payload in its name, which is then displayed in the directory listing without proper HTML escaping or encoding. This allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected directory listing page. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where insufficient input validation and output encoding create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into web applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be exploited simply by crafting malicious file names that contain script tags or other malicious HTML content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation within the application context. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the web server's directory listing feature, which is commonly used in development environments, file sharing systems, and content management scenarios where users might upload files with arbitrary names. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload content or where directory listings are enabled for public access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Monkey HTTP Daemon to version 1.2.3 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Administrators should also implement proper output encoding for all directory listing content, ensuring that any user-supplied data is properly escaped before display. Additional protective measures include disabling directory listing functionality where possible, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security audits of web server configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns, particularly in the context of server-side input handling and output encoding controls.