Microsoft IIS 3.0/4.0 ASP File URL information disclosure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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5.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft IIS 3.0/4.0. Impacted is an unknown function of the component ASP File Handler. Executing a manipulation with the input ::$DATA as part of URL can lead to information disclosure. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-1999-0278. Furthermore, an exploit is available. This vulnerability is historically impactful due to its background and the reception it garnered. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft IIS 3.0/4.0 (Web Server). This vulnerability affects an unknown function of the component ASP File Handler. The manipulation with the input value ::$DATA leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

In IIS, remote attackers can obtain source code for ASP files by appending "::$DATA" to the URL.

The issue has been introduced in 05/15/1997. The weakness was published 06/01/1998 by Paul as MS98-003 as confirmed security bulletin (Website). The advisory is shared for download at microsoft.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-1999-0278. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details and also a public exploit are known. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/26/2025). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1592. This vulnerability has a historic impact due to its background and reception.

It is possible to download the exploit at exploit-db.com. It is declared as highly functional. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 382 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10362 (Microsoft IIS ASP::$DATA ASP Source Disclosure), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Web Servers and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 86043 (Microsoft NT IIS ASP Alternate Data Streams Vulnerability).

Applying the patch MS98-003 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at technet.microsoft.com. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 975. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 1086.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (1125), Exploit-DB (19118), Tenable (10362), SecurityFocus (BID 149†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-246†). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Information disclosure
CWE: CWE-200 / CWE-284 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Highly functional
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 10362
Nessus Name: Microsoft IIS ASP::$DATA ASP Source Disclosure
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS98-003

Snort ID: 975
Snort Message: SERVER-IIS Alternate Data streams ASP file access attempt
Snort Class: 🔍

Suricata ID: 2001365
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

05/15/1997 🔍
01/01/1998 +231 days 🔍
06/01/1998 +151 days 🔍
06/01/1998 +0 days 🔍
07/01/1998 +30 days 🔍
04/10/2000 +649 days 🔍
11/25/2002 +959 days 🔍
06/19/2014 +4224 days 🔍
10/26/2025 +4147 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS98-003
Researcher: Paul
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-0278 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-0278
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-14140

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 1125
SecurityFocus: 149 - NT IIS ASP Alternate Data Streams Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 246 - [MS98-003] IIS ::$DATA source code reveal, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 06/19/2014 15:40
Updated: 10/26/2025 02:47
Changes: 06/19/2014 15:40 (87), 05/05/2019 18:12 (3), 12/08/2024 14:11 (18), 10/26/2025 02:47 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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