IRM 006: The configuration of Microsoft URLScan can be enumerated when implemented in conjunction with RSA SecurID

From: IRM Advisories (advisoriesat_private)
Date: Thu Aug 14 2003 - 02:58:58 PDT

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    IRM Security Advisory No. 006
    
    The configuration of Microsoft URLScan can be enumerated when implemented in
    conjunction with RSA SecurID
    
    Vulnerablity Type / Importance: Information Leakage / High
    
    Problem discovered: July 18th 2003
    Microsoft contacted: July 18th 2003
    RSA contacted: August 11th 2003
    Advisory published: August 13th 2003
    
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    Abstract:
    
    URLScan is an ISAPI filter, provided by Microsoft that performs various
    checks on HTTP requests sent to a web server. It can  be configured to block
    access to various file extensions, HTTP methods and potentially malicious
    URL sequences. SecurID is a  product supplied by RSA Security to provide a
    two-factor authentication mechanism to prevent unauthorised access to a
    website. If the products are used together on the same web server and
    configured in a certain way then it is possible to  enumerate the
    configuration of URLScan and hence potentially uncover malicious file
    extensions that may not be filtered by  the product.
    
    
    Description:
    
    Recently during a penetration test IRM identified a serious security
    vulnerability when URLScan and SecurID are combined on  the same machine.
    
    IRM requested the following URL from the target web server:
    
    http://server/irm.ida
    
    Contained within the page contents that were returned was the following
    line:
    
    <INPUT TYPE=HIDDEN NAME="referrer"
    VALUE="Z2FZ3CRejected-By-UrlScanZ3EZ3FZ7EZ2Firm.ida">
    
    Then IRM requested the URL shown below:
    
    http://server/irm.htm
    
    No line relating to URLScan was returned in the page contents.
    
    The default urlscan.ini file contains the following line:
    
    RejectResponseUrl=  ; UrlScan will send rejected requests to the URL
    specified here. Default is /<Rejected-by-UrlScan> 
    
    This is where the 'referrer' value that is returned originates.
    
    As the ISAPI extension '.ida' is associated with the Indexing service, which
    was exploited by the infamous Code Red worm, the  engineer thought it was
    likely to be in the filtered extensions list within the URLScan
    configuration. A script was then  produced to test this theory (available on
    the IRM website - http://www.irmplc.com/advisories.htm) and it was
    demonstrated  that using this technique the configuration of URLScan could
    be enumerated.
    
    Microsoft were initially contacted, but were unable to reproduce the issue
    using just URLScan. However, when RSA Security  were made aware of the
    vulnerability they confirmed that it was related to the interaction between
    the use of URLScan and  SecurID and provided a simple workaround to resolve
    the problem.
    
    
    Tested Versions:
    
    Microsoft IIS 5
    RSA ACE/Agent 5.0 
    URLScan 2.5  
    
    
    Tested Operating Systems:
    
    Microsoft Windows 2000
    
    
    Vendor & Patch Information:
    
    RSA Security were contacted on the 11th August and on 13th August provided a
    workaround to resolve the issue.
    
    
    Workarounds:
    
    In Microsoft Internet Services Manager, the SecurID filter needs to be the
    first in the global ISAPI filter list, above  URLScan.
    
    
    Credits:
    
    Research & Advisory: Andy Davis 
    
    
    Disclaimer:
    
    All information in this advisory is provided on an 'as is' 
    basis in the hope that it will be useful. Information Risk Management 
    Plc is not responsible for any risks or occurrences caused 
    by the application of this information.
    
    
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    Information Risk Management Plc.
    22 Buckingham Gate 
    London 
    SW1E 6LB
    +44 (0)207 808 6420
    
     
     
    



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