Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure is a Medium risk vulnerability that is one of the most frequently found on networks around the world. This issue has been around since at least 1990 but has proven either difficult to detect, difficult to resolve or prone to being overlooked entirely.
| Vulnerability Name: | Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Test ID: | 15257 |
| Risk: | Medium |
| Category: | Web servers |
| Type: | Attack |
| Summary: | The remote host has Microsoft IIS installed and prone to information disclosure vulnerability. Microsoft IIS fails to validate a specially crafted GET request having a '~' tilde character, which allows to disclose all short-names of folders and files having 4 letters extensions. |
| Impact | Successful exploitation will let the remote attackers to obtain sensitive information that could aid in further attacks. |
| Solution: | There are still workarounds through Vendor and security vendors. Using a configured WAF may be useful (discarding web requests including the tilde "~" character). |
| More information: |
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| Microsoft knowledge base: | 121007 |
Scanning For and Finding Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure
Use of Vulnerability Management tools are standard practice for the discovery of this vulnerability. The primary failure of VA in finding this vulnerability is related to setting the proper scope and frequency of network scans. It is vital that the broadest range of hosts (active IPs) possible are scanned and that scanning is done frequently. We recommend weekly. Your existing scanning solution or set of test tools should make this not just possible, but easy and affordable.
Penetration Testing (pentest) for this Vulnerability
The Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure is prone to false positive reports by most vulnerability assessment solutions. AVDS is alone in using behavior based testing that eliminates this issue. For all other VA tools security consultants will recommend confirmation by direct observation. In any case Penetration testing procedures for discovery of Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure produces the highest discovery accuracy rate, but the infrequency of this expensive form of testing degrades its value. The ideal would be to have pentesting accuracy and the frequency and scope possibilities of VA solutions, and this is accomplished only by AVDS.
Security Updates on Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure
Given that this is one of the most frequently found vulnerabilities, there is ample information regarding mitigation online and very good reason to get it fixed. Hackers are also aware that this is a frequently found vulnerability and so its discovery and repair is that much more important. It is so well known and common that any network that has it present and unmitigated indicates "low hanging fruit" to attackers.
Patching/Repairing this Vulnerability
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure is a Medium risk vulnerability that is also high frequency and high visibility. This is the most severe combination of security factors that exists and it is extremely important to find it on your network and fix it as soon as possible.
Exploits related to Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS Tilde Character Information Disclosure
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/523424