External risk intelligence

Microsoft IIS WebDAV Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Q: Who should be concerned about CVE-2017-7269 based on its exposure?

Organizations running Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0, especially those with internet-facing web servers, should be concerned. The WebDAV service, where the vulnerability resides, is typically exposed to the internet to handle web traffic, making these systems a direct gateway and thus very likely to be targeted.

Q: What is the first step for responding to CVE-2017-7269?

The first practical step for organizations running affected technology is to identify any instances of exposed IIS 6.0. Following identification, consider isolating or disabling the vulnerable WebDAV services until a permanent fix can be applied or verified.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2017-7269

The vulnerability exists in the Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 WebDAV service. As a web server component designed to handle HTTP/WebDAV requests, this service is typically exposed directly to the public internet to facilitate web traffic and remote document management, making it an internet-facing gateway by design in normal deployment scenarios.

Buffer Overflow

Microsoft Internet Information Services

6.0

Halo Surface Signal: 5 out of 5 — more likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

The Internet Information Services (IIS) WebDAV service contains a buffer overflow vulnerability. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. The impact can include unauthorized code execution and potential compromise of affected systems.

Internet Information Services (IIS) WebDAV service
Buffer overflow in ScStoragePathFromUrl function
Remote code execution, system compromise

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

A buffer overflow vulnerability in the WebDAV service of Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. This occurs when a specially crafted, long header is sent in a PROPFIND request, targeting the ScStoragePathFromUrl function. The exploit can result in attackers gaining control over affected systems.

Exposed WebDAV service
Attacker sends malformed request
Code execution and system control

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems by sending a specially crafted request to the WebDAV service. This could lead to a compromise of the affected server and potential further network intrusion. Organizations should consider this a high priority for remediation.

Attackers with moderate skill.
Requires network access.
High business risk and urgency.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This critical vulnerability affects the WebDAV service within Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0. Remote attackers can exploit a buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code. This presents a significant business risk, potentially leading to system compromise and unauthorized data access.

Find exposed IIS 6.0 assets.
Isolate or disable affected services.
Apply vendor security updates.
Verify remediation and monitor activity.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

Free EASM Trial See How Signal Works

Frequently asked questions

What is Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0?

Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 is a web server software used for hosting websites and web applications on Windows Server. It enables users to publish information on the internet and manage web content.

What kind of weakness does CVE-2017-7269 describe?

CVE-2017-7269 describes a buffer overflow vulnerability. This type of weakness occurs when a program tries to write more data into a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory and allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

How can an attacker trigger the vulnerability in CVE-2017-7269?

An attacker can trigger this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted, long header that begins with "If: <http://" within a PROPFIND request to the WebDAV service. This targets the ScStoragePathFromUrl function. A valid request that does not start with this specific string would not trigger the bug.

Who should be concerned about CVE-2017-7269 based on its exposure?