[1][USEMAP] [2][USEMAP] [3][LINK] Allaire Security Bulletin (ASB00-26) Microsoft (MS00-078): Patch Available for "Web Server Folder Traversal" Vulnerability Originally Posted: October 23, 2000 Last Updated: October 23, 2000 Summary Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in Microsoft(r) IIS 4.0 and 5.0. The vulnerability could potentially allow a visitor to a web site to take a wide range of destructive actions against it, including running programs on it. This is not a problem with the ColdFusion Server, but it is an issue that can affect ColdFusion users, as described in the Issue section. Allaire recommends that customers follow the instructions posted on the Microsoft Web site to address this issue. Issue This issue is clearly explained in the Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-078): Due to a canonicalization error in IIS 4.0 and 5.0, a particular type of malformed URL could be used to access files and folders that lie anywhere on the logical drive that contains the web folders. This would potentially enable a malicious user who visited the web site to gain additional privileges on the machine specifically, it could be used to gain privileges commensurate with those of a locally logged-on user. Gaining these permissions would enable the malicious user to add, change or delete data, run code already on the server, or upload new code to the server and run it. The request would be processed under the security context of the IUSR_machinename account, which is the anonymous user account for IIS. Within the web folders, this account has only privileges that are appropriate for untrusted users. However, it is a member of the Everyone and Users groups and, as a result, the ability of the malicious user to access files outside the web folders becomes particularly significant. By default, these groups have execute permissions to most operating system commands, and this would give the malicious user the ability to cause widespread damage. Customers who have proactively removed the Everyone and Users groups from permissions on the server, or who are hosting the web folders on a different drive from the operating system, would be at significantly less risk from the vulnerability. Microsoft strongly recommends that all customers running IIS 4.0 or 5.0 immediately apply the patch for this vulnerability. This patch was originally released in August 2000 as a fix for a completely different vulnerability (discussed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-057), and customers who have already applied it do not need to take any additional action. Source: Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-078) [online]. [Redmond, Washington, USA] : Microsoft, October 2000 [cited 18 October 2000]. Available from World Wide Web: <[4]http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-078.asp>. Affected Software Versions * Microsoft IIS 4.0 * Microsoft IIS 5.0 What Allaire is Doing This is not an Allaire product. We are recommending that customers reference the information at Microsoft's web site to address this issue. What Customers Should Do There is a patch available to correct this problem. It is detailed in the following Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-078): [5]http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-078.asp Please note: this issue and patch may not be required for all users. Allaire customers should review all material in the Microsoft Security Bulletin and related documents carefully before applying the patch. As always, customers should test patch changes in a testing environment before modifying production servers. Revisions October 23, 2000 -- Bulletin first created. Reporting Security Issues Allaire is committed to addressing security issues and providing customers with the information on how they can protect themselves. If you identify what you believe may be a security issue with an Allaire product, please send an email to secure@allaire.com. We will work to appropriately address and communicate the issue. Receiving Security Bulletins When Allaire becomes aware of a security issue that we believe significantly affects our products or customers, we will notify customers when appropriate. Typically this notification will be in the form of a security bulletin explaining the issue and the response. Allaire customers who would like to receive notification of new security bulletins when they are released can sign up for our security notification service. For additional information on security issues at Allaire, please visit the Security Zone at: [6]http://www.allaire.com/security. 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