Microsoft IIS 6.0 WebDAV ScStoragePathFromUrl Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution (CVE-2017-7269)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTMicrosoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 with WebDAV service enabled on Windows Server 2003 R2.
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with system privileges and fully compromise the host by sending a specially crafted HTTP PROPFIND request.
Since Windows Server 2003 is End-of-Life (EoL), immediately migrate to a supported OS version or disable the IIS WebDAV service.
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Windows Server 2003 has reached End-of-Life (EoL) and does not receive official security updates. The primary recommendation is to migrate workloads to a supported version of Windows Server (e.g., Windows Server 2022). If migration is not immediately feasible, consider third-party micro-patching solutions like 0patch.
2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If WebDAV is not business-critical, disable the WebDAV Web Service Extension in IIS 6.0 immediately using the following commands:
:: Disable WebDAV Web Service Extension via adsutil.vbs
cscript.exe C:\Inetpub\AdminScripts\adsutil.vbs set W3SVC/WebSvcExtRestrictionList "0,C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\httpext.dll,0,WebDAV,WebDAV"
:: Alternatively, stop the IIS service entirely if it is not required
net stop w3svc3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Inspect IIS W3C log files for anomalous PROPFIND requests containing excessively long If: headers. Use the following PowerShell script to audit the local system for IIS 6.0 and WebDAV status:
# Check for IIS 6.0 installation and WebDAV extension status
$iisVersion = (Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\INetStp' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).MajorVersion
if ($iisVersion -eq 6) {
Write-Host '[WARNING] IIS 6.0 detected. Checking WebDAV status...' -ForegroundColor Yellow
$metabase = [ADSI]'IIS://Localhost/W3SVC'
$restrictions = $metabase.WebSvcExtRestrictionList
foreach ($item in $restrictions) {
if ($item -like '*httpext.dll*') {
Write-Host '[CRITICAL] WebDAV Extension is active in IIS 6.0: ' $item -ForegroundColor Red
}
}
} else {
Write-Host '[INFO] IIS 6.0 is not active on this system.' -ForegroundColor Green
}Block Exploits Instantly with Managed Virtual Patching Rules
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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2017-7269) is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-120) located in the ScStoragePathFromUrl function within the WebDAV extension of Microsoft IIS 6.0. The root cause is the lack of proper bounds checking when copying user-supplied URL paths from HTTP headers into a fixed-size local stack buffer.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker exploits this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP PROPFIND request containing an extremely long URI starting with 'http://' inside the If header. When the ScStoragePathFromUrl function parses this header, the destination buffer overflows, allowing the attacker to overwrite the stack return address and redirect execution flow to an embedded shellcode payload.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 9.8 and active exploitation in the wild (listed in CISA KEV and holding an EPSS score of 0.9982), this vulnerability poses an extreme risk. Successful exploitation grants the attacker remote code execution under the security context of the IIS worker process (w3wp.exe), leading to full system compromise, lateral movement, and potential ransomware deployment.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Buffer overflow in the ScStoragePathFromUrl function in the WebDAV service in Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long header beginning with "If: <http://" in a PROPFIND request, as exploited in the wild in July or August 2016.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2017-7269)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2017-7269 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2017-7269 is rated CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 99.8%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2017-7269?
Primary impacted vendors include microsoft across internet_information_services, windows_server_2003. Scope summary: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 running IIS 6.0 with the WebDAV service extension enabled
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2017-7269 before patching?
[Mitigation] Since Windows Server 2003 is End-of-Life (EoL), immediately migrate to a supported OS version or disable the IIS WebDAV service. Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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