ITinfo: Microsoft Webservers Laid Open For All To See

Bug Hits Microsoft Webservers

Security hole opens all files to everyone

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Microsoft Webservers Laid Open For All To See

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

Microsoft is scrambling to repair damage caused by a security hole in its IIS 4 & 5 webserver that runs on Windows NT/2000. Microsoft claims over four million IIS websites, and each one of them is at risk of releasing sensitive data through the security hole. Called the "Web Server Folder Traversal" error, the flaw allows users to execute files on an IIS website by requesting a specific web address. Microsoft released a bulletin about the problem Tuesday, urging customers to patch their systems.

The bug allows access to any file on the webserver via a specified URL. Like all webservers, IIS is supposed to prevent access to files that aren't intended to be part of the website.

Microsoft has released a patch that will close the security hole. IIS webmasters may download and install the patch from Microsoft's Security Bulletin site.

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References

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updated October 17, 2000
http://dgl.com/itinfo/2000/it001017.html