Description
The web server receives a URL or similar request from an upstream component and retrieves the contents of this URL, but it does not sufficiently ensure that the request is being sent to the expected destination.
By providing URLs to unexpected hosts or ports, attackers can make it appear that the server is sending the request, possibly bypassing access controls such as firewalls that prevent the attackers from accessing the URLs directly. The server can be used as a proxy to conduct port scanning of hosts in internal networks, use other URLs such as that can access documents on the system (using file://), or use other protocols such as gopher:// or tftp://, which may provide greater control over the contents of requests.
Modes of Introduction:
– Architecture and Design
Likelihood of Exploit:
Related Weaknesses
Consequences
Confidentiality: Read Application Data
Integrity: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Potential Mitigations
CVE References
- CVE-2002-1484
- Web server allows attackers to request a URL from another server, including other ports, which allows proxied scanning.
- CVE-2004-2061
- CGI script accepts and retrieves incoming URLs.
- CVE-2010-1637
- Web-based mail program allows internal network scanning using a modified POP3 port number.
- CVE-2009-0037
- URL-downloading library automatically follows redirects to file:// and scp:// URLs
More Stories
The Most Dangerous Vulnerabilities in Apache Tomcat and How to Protect Against Them
Apache Tomcat is an open-source web server and servlet container that is widely used in enterprise environments to run Java...
ZDI-CAN-18333: A Critical Zero-Day Vulnerability in Microsoft Windows
Zero-day vulnerabilities are a serious threat to cybersecurity, as they can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access...
CWE-669 – Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres
Description The product does not properly transfer a resource/behavior to another sphere, or improperly imports a resource/behavior from another sphere,...
CWE-67 – Improper Handling of Windows Device Names
Description The software constructs pathnames from user input, but it does not handle or incorrectly handles a pathname containing a...
CWE-670 – Always-Incorrect Control Flow Implementation
Description The code contains a control flow path that does not reflect the algorithm that the path is intended to...
CWE-671 – Lack of Administrator Control over Security
Description The product uses security features in a way that prevents the product's administrator from tailoring security settings to reflect...