CWE-433

Unparsed Raw Web Content Delivery

Variant

What it is

The product stores raw content or supporting code under the web document root with an extension that is not specifically handled by the server.

If code is stored in a file with an extension such as ".inc" or ".pl", and the web server does not have a handler for that extension, then the server will likely send the contents of the file directly to the requester without the pre-processing that was expected. When that file contains sensitive information such as database credentials, this may allow the attacker to compromise the application or associated components.

Impact

Confidentiality

Read Application Data

Mitigations

[Architecture and Design] Perform a type check before interpreting files.
[Architecture and Design] Do not store sensitive information in files which may be misinterpreted.

Real-world CVE examples

CVE-2002-1886 — ".inc" file stored under web document root and returned unparsed by the server
CVE-2002-2065 — ".inc" file stored under web document root and returned unparsed by the server
CVE-2005-2029 — ".inc" file stored under web document root and returned unparsed by the server
CVE-2001-0330 — direct request to .pl file leaves it unparsed
CVE-2002-0614 — .inc file
CVE-2004-2353 — unparsed config.conf file
CVE-2007-3365 — Chain: uppercase file extensions causes web server to return script source code instead of executing the script.

Related weaknesses

CWE-219 (childof)

Test & detect

Browse all common weaknesses, check related exploited CVEs, or map to ATT&CK techniques.

Source: MITRE CWE. View on cwe.mitre.org →