Microsoft IIS 4.0/5.0/5.1 URL Parser w3svc.dll null pointer dereference

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 IIS 4.0/5.0/5.1. The affected element is an unknown function in the library w3svc.dll of the component URL Parser. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2002-0072. In addition, an exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft IIS 4.0/5.0/5.1 (Web Server) and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is an unknown functionality in the library w3svc.dll of the component URL Parser. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

The w3svc.dll ISAPI filter in Front Page Server Extensions and ASP.NET for Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0, 5.0, and 5.1 does not properly handle the error condition when a long URL is provided, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) when the URL parser accesses a null pointer.

The bug was discovered 04/10/2002. The weakness was presented 04/10/2002 by Dave Aitel with @stake as confirmed advisory (CERT.org). The advisory is shared for download at kb.cert.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2002-0072. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details as well as a exploit are known.

After immediately, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10937 (Microsoft IIS Multiple Remote DoS (MS02-018 / Q319733)), 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 10567 (Microsoft IIS ISAPI Filter Access Violation Denial of Service Vulnerability (MS02-018)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (8800), Tenable (10937), SecurityFocus (BID 4479†), OSVDB (3326†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-3078†). See VDB-15400 for similar entry. 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: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 10937
Nessus Name: Microsoft IIS Multiple Remote DoS (MS02-018 / Q319733)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

04/10/2002 🔍
04/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
04/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
04/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
04/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
04/11/2002 +1 days 🔍
04/22/2002 +11 days 🔍
12/04/2003 +591 days 🔍
01/06/2004 +33 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +3838 days 🔍
09/23/2025 +4092 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: kb.cert.org
Researcher: Dave Aitel
Organization: @stake
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2002-0072 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0072
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-18068

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 8800
SecurityFocus: 4479 - Microsoft IIS ISAPI Filter Access Violation Denial of Service Vulnerability
OSVDB: 3326 - Microsoft IIS w3svc.dll ISAPI Filter URL Handling Remote DoS
Vulnerability Center: 3078 - [MS02-018, cisco-sa-20020415-ms02-018] DoS in FrontPage Server Extensions and ASP.NET for IIS, High

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

Entryinfo

Created: 07/11/2014 13:50
Updated: 09/23/2025 04:26
Changes: 07/11/2014 13:50 (73), 05/17/2019 12:49 (5), 01/21/2025 07:07 (17), 09/23/2025 04:26 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:E7E:103

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