Microsoft IIS 5.0 WebDav memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Microsoft IIS 5.0. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component WebDav. Performing a manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2003-0109. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. Furthermore, an exploit is available. Due to its background and reception, this vulnerability has an historic impact. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft IIS 5.0 (Web Server). It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown functionality of the component WebDav. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Buffer overflow in ntdll.dll on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, Windows 2000, and Windows XP allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated via a WebDAV request to IIS 5.0.

The bug was discovered 04/24/2003. The weakness was published 03/17/2003 by Operash as MS03-007 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). It is possible to read the advisory at microsoft.com. The vendor was not involved in the public release. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2003-0109 since 02/26/2003. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/25/2025). Due to its background and reception, this vulnerability has a historic impact.

After 3 months, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is shared for download at exploit-db.com. It is declared as highly functional. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1124 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11413 (MS03-007: Unchecked Buffer in ntdll.dll (815021)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The security flaw can be detected with the following NASL code:

if (http_is_dead(port:port)) exit(0);

 	 body = 
	     '<?xml version="1.0"?>\r\n' +
	     '<g:searchrequest xmlns:g="DAV:">\r\n' +
	     '<g:sql>\r\n' +
	     'Select "DAV:displayname" from scope()\r\n' +
	     '</g:sql>\r\n' +
	     '</g:searchrequest>\r\n';
	     
	 # This is where the flaw lies. SEARCH /AAAA.....AAAA crashes
	 # the remote server. The buffer has to be 65535 or 65536 bytes
	 # long, nothing else
	 
w = http_send_recv3(method:"SEARCH", port: port, item: "/"+crap(65535),
  content_type: "text/xml", data: body);

if (http_is_dead(port:port))
{
   security_hole(port);
   exit(0);
}

if (isnull(w)) exit(0, "The web server did not answer or dropped the request");

r = strcat(w[0], w[1], '\r\n', w[2]);
if (w[0] =~ "^HTTP/1\.[0-1] 500 " && "(exception)" >< r)
  security_hole(port);
The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 86479 (Microsoft Windows ntdll.dll Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (MS03-007)).

Upgrading to version 1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch MS03-007 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be patching the affected component. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 2090. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 1605.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (11533), Exploit-DB (1), Tenable (11413), SecurityFocus (BID 7116†) and OSVDB (4467†). Further details are available at heise.de. Similar entries are available at VDB-84, VDB-86, VDB-85 and VDB-82. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality 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: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.2

VulDB Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Temp Score: 5.2
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: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
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: 11413
Nessus Name: MS03-007: Unchecked Buffer in ntdll.dll (815021)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 11413
OpenVAS Name: Unchecked Buffer in ntdll.dll (Q815021)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/iis5_webdav
Saint Name: ntdll.dll buffer overflow via IIS 5.0 WebDAV

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

MetaSploit ID: ms03_007_ntdll_webdav.rb
MetaSploit Name: MS03-007 Microsoft IIS 5.0 WebDAV ntdll.dll Path Overflow
MetaSploit File: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Upgrade: IIS 1
Patch: MS03-007

Snort ID: 2090
Snort Message: SERVER-IIS WEBDAV exploit attempt
Snort Class: 🔍

Suricata ID: 2002844
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

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

Timelineinfo

02/17/2000 🔍
02/26/2003 +1105 days 🔍
03/17/2003 +18 days 🔍
03/17/2003 +0 days 🔍
03/17/2003 +0 days 🔍
03/18/2003 +1 days 🔍
03/31/2003 +13 days 🔍
03/31/2003 +0 days 🔍
04/24/2003 +24 days 🔍
05/30/2003 +36 days 🔍
06/27/2003 +28 days 🔍
03/17/2004 +264 days 🔍
08/25/2025 +7830 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS03-007
Researcher: Operash
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2003-0109 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0109
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-15

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 11533 - Microsoft IIS WebDAV long request buffer overflow, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 7116 - Microsoft Windows ntdll.dll Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 8314
OSVDB: 4467 - Microsoft Windows WebDav ntdll.dll Remote Overflow
Vulnerability Center: 1342 - [MS03-007] Buffer Overflow in WebDAV ntdll.dll Allows Arbitrary Code Execution via Long Request to I, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/17/2003 01:00
Updated: 08/25/2025 02:36
Changes: 03/17/2003 01:00 (70), 05/07/2018 21:48 (51), 03/08/2021 07:15 (3), 03/08/2021 07:17 (1), 12/31/2024 03:27 (15), 08/25/2025 02:36 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:471:103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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