Description

The software constructs pathnames from user input, but it does not handle or incorrectly handles a pathname containing a Windows device name such as AUX or CON. This typically leads to denial of service or an information exposure when the application attempts to process the pathname as a regular file.

Not properly handling virtual filenames (e.g. AUX, CON, PRN, COM1, LPT1) can result in different types of vulnerabilities. In some cases an attacker can request a device via injection of a virtual filename in a URL, which may cause an error that leads to a denial of service or an error page that reveals sensitive information. A software system that allows device names to bypass filtering runs the risk of an attacker injecting malicious code in a file with the name of a device.

Historically, there was a bug in the Windows operating system that caused a blue screen of death. Even after that issue was fixed DOS device names continue to be a factor.

Modes of Introduction:

– Architecture and Design

Likelihood of Exploit: High

Related Weaknesses

CWE-66

Consequences

Availability, Confidentiality, Other: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart, Read Application Data, Other

Potential Mitigations

Phase: Implementation

Description: 

Be familiar with the device names in the operating system where your system is deployed. Check input for these device names.

CVE References

• CVE-2002-0106
  • Server allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a series of requests to .JSP files that contain an MS-DOS device name.

• CVE-2002-0200
  • Server allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via an HTTP request for an MS-DOS device name.

• CVE-2002-1052
  • Product allows remote attackers to use MS-DOS device names in HTTP requests to cause a denial of service or obtain the physical path of the server.

• CVE-2001-0493
  • Server allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a URL that contains an MS-DOS device name.

• CVE-2001-0558
  • Server allows a remote attacker to create a denial of service via a URL request which includes a MS-DOS device name.

• CVE-2000-0168
  • Microsoft Windows 9x operating systems allow an attacker to cause a denial of service via a pathname that includes file device names, aka the “DOS Device in Path Name” vulnerability.

• CVE-2001-0492
  • Server allows remote attackers to determine the physical path of the server via a URL containing MS-DOS device names.

• CVE-2004-0552
  • Product does not properly handle files whose names contain reserved MS-DOS device names, which can allow malicious code to bypass detection when it is installed, copied, or executed.

• CVE-2005-2195
  • Server allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a URL with a filename containing a .cgi extension and an MS-DOS device name.