Microsoft Index Server 2.0 WebHits ISAPI Filter webhits.dll path traversal

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Microsoft Index Server 2.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality in the library webhits.dll of the component WebHits ISAPI Filter. Executing a manipulation can lead to path traversal. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2000-0097. In addition, an exploit is available. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Index Server 2.0 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects an unknown functionality in the library webhits.dll of the component WebHits ISAPI Filter. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

The WebHits ISAPI filter in Microsoft Index Server allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files, aka the "Malformed Hit-Highlighting Argument" vulnerability.

The weakness was presented 01/27/2000 by David Litchfield with Microsoft as MS00-006 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared for download at microsoft.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2000-0097. 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 MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1006.

A public exploit has been developed in ANSI C and been published immediately after the advisory. It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10356 (Microsoft IIS WebHits null.htw .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 86036 (Microsoft Index Server File Viewing Vulnerability (MS06-006)).

Applying the patch MS00-006 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 1019. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 1069.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (3884), Exploit-DB (19731), Tenable (10356), SecurityFocus (BID 950†) and OSVDB (1210†). See VDB-15269 and VDB-15420 for similar entries. 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: 4.8

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Path traversal
CWE: CWE-22
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 10356
Nessus Name: Microsoft IIS WebHits null.htw .asp Source Disclosure
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 80007
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft MS00-06 security check
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Patch: MS00-006

Snort ID: 1019
Snort Message: SERVER-IIS Malformed Hit-Highlighting Argument File Access Attempt
Snort Class: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

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

Timelineinfo

01/26/2000 🔍
01/26/2000 +0 days 🔍
01/26/2000 +0 days 🔍
01/27/2000 +1 days 🔍
01/27/2000 +0 days 🔍
04/01/2000 +65 days 🔍
01/30/2003 +1034 days 🔍
02/21/2003 +22 days 🔍
06/23/2014 +4139 days 🔍
10/19/2025 +4136 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS00-006
Researcher: David Litchfield
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2000-0097 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2000-0097
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-15268
X-Force: 3884
SecurityFocus: 950 - NT Index Server Directory Traversal Vulnerability
OSVDB: 1210 - Microsoft IIS WebHits.dll ISAPI Filter Traversal Arbitrary File Access
Vulnerability Center: 771 - [MS00-006] Microsoft Index Server Enables Arbitrary File Read on the Web Server, Medium

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

Entryinfo

Created: 06/23/2014 16:02
Updated: 10/19/2025 20:11
Changes: 06/23/2014 16:02 (93), 05/08/2019 16:44 (1), 05/27/2025 16:03 (17), 10/19/2025 20:11 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:D67:103

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