CWE-50 Variant Incomplete

Path Equivalence: '//multiple/leading/slash'

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths containing multiple leading slashes (like '//multiple/leading/slash') without proper normalization. Attackers can…

Definition

What is CWE-50?

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths containing multiple leading slashes (like '//multiple/leading/slash') without proper normalization. Attackers can exploit this ambiguity to bypass security checks, potentially accessing files or directories outside the intended scope.
When a system processes a path starting with '//', different operating systems and libraries interpret it differently. On Unix-like systems, '//' is often treated as equivalent to a single '/', but some parsers or custom logic might handle it inconsistently. This inconsistency creates a loophole where an attacker can craft paths that confuse the resolution logic, leading to unauthorized file system access. To prevent this, developers should implement strict path validation and canonicalization. Always normalize user-supplied paths by resolving sequences like '//' to a single slash before any security or access control checks. Use trusted library functions for path resolution instead of custom string manipulation to ensure consistent behavior across all platforms.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-50

  • CVE-2002-1483

    Read files with full pathname using multiple internal slash.

  • CVE-1999-1456

    Server allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a GET request with more than one leading / (slash) character in the filename.

  • CVE-2004-0578

    Server allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via leading slash (//) characters in a URL request.

  • CVE-2002-0275

    Server allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and read restricted files via an extra / (slash) in the requested URL.

  • CVE-2004-1032

    Product allows local users to delete arbitrary files or create arbitrary empty files via a target filename with a large number of leading slash (/) characters.

  • CVE-2002-1238

    Server allows remote attackers to bypass access restrictions for files via an HTTP request with a sequence of multiple / (slash) characters such as http://www.example.com///file/.

  • CVE-2004-1878

    Product allows remote attackers to bypass authentication, obtain sensitive information, or gain access via a direct request to admin/user.pl preceded by // (double leading slash).

  • CVE-2005-1365

    Server allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a URL with multiple leading "/" (slash) characters and ".." sequences.

Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

  1. 1

    Identifiziere einen Codepfad, der nicht vertrauenswürdige Eingaben ohne Validierung verarbeitet.

  2. 2

    Erzeuge eine Payload, die das unsichere Verhalten auslöst — Injection, Traversal, Overflow oder Logik-Missbrauch.

  3. 3

    Liefere die Payload über einen normalen Request aus und beobachte die Reaktion der Anwendung.

  4. 4

    Iteriere, bis die Antwort Daten preisgibt, Angreifer-Code ausführt oder Berechtigungen eskaliert.

Verwundbares Codebeispiel

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE hat kein Codebeispiel für diese CWE veröffentlicht. Das untenstehende Muster ist illustrativ — kanonische Referenzen findest du unter Ressourcen.

Verwundbar pseudo 
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}
Sicheres Codebeispiel

Secure pseudo

Sicher pseudo 
// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}
What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Präventions-Checkliste

How to prevent CWE-50

  • Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
  • Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
  • Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
  • Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
  • Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Erkennungssignale

How to detect CWE-50

SAST High

Führe statische Analyse (SAST) auf der Codebasis aus und suche im Datenfluss nach dem unsicheren Muster.

DAST Moderate

Führe dynamische Application-Security-Tests gegen den Live-Endpoint aus.

Runtime Moderate

Beobachte Runtime-Logs auf ungewöhnliche Exception-Traces, fehlerhafte Eingaben oder Versuche, Autorisierung zu umgehen.

Code review Moderate

Code Review: Markiere jeden neuen Code, der Eingaben von dieser Oberfläche ohne validierte Framework-Helper verarbeitet.

Plexicus Auto-Fix

Plexicus erkennt CWE-50 automatisch und öffnet in unter 60 Sekunden einen Fix-PR.

Codex Remedium scannt jeden Commit, identifiziert genau diese Schwachstelle und liefert einen reviewer-ready Pull Request mit dem Patch. Keine Tickets. Keine Hand-offs.

Demo anfordern Plexicus kostenlos testen
Häufig gestellte Fragen

Frequently asked questions

Was ist CWE-50?

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths containing multiple leading slashes (like '//multiple/leading/slash') without proper normalization. Attackers can exploit this ambiguity to bypass security checks, potentially accessing files or directories outside the intended scope.

Wie gravierend ist CWE-50?

MITRE hat für diese Schwachstelle keine Exploit-Wahrscheinlichkeit veröffentlicht. Behandle sie als mittlere Auswirkung, bis dein Threat Model anderes belegt.

Welche Sprachen oder Plattformen sind von CWE-50 betroffen?

MITRE hat für diese CWE keine betroffenen Plattformen spezifiziert — sie kann in den meisten Anwendungs-Stacks auftreten.

Wie kann ich CWE-50 verhindern?

Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.

Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-50?

Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-50 bei jedem Commit. Bei einem Treffer öffnet unser Codex-Remedium-Agent einen Fix-PR mit korrigiertem Code, Tests und einer einzeiligen Zusammenfassung für den Reviewer.

Wo erfahre ich mehr über CWE-50?

MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/50.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.

Verwandte Schwachstellen

Weaknesses related to CWE-50

CWE-41 Parent

Improper Resolution of Path Equivalence

This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly handle different text representations that refer to the same file or…

CWE-42 Sibling

Path Equivalence: 'filename.' (Trailing Dot)

This vulnerability occurs when a system accepts file or directory paths that end with a dot (like 'file.txt.' or 'folder.') without…

CWE-44 Sibling

Path Equivalence: 'file.name' (Internal Dot)

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file paths containing internal dots (like 'file.ordir') without properly checking…

CWE-46 Sibling

Path Equivalence: 'filename ' (Trailing Space)

This vulnerability occurs when an application processes file paths that end with a space character (like 'document.txt ') without properly…

CWE-47 Sibling

Path Equivalence: ' filename' (Leading Space)

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths that begin with a space character (like ' filename'),…

CWE-48 Sibling

Path Equivalence: 'file name' (Internal Whitespace)

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file paths containing internal spaces (like 'file name') without proper validation.…

CWE-49 Sibling

Path Equivalence: 'filename/' (Trailing Slash)

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths that end with a slash (e.g., 'documents/') without properly…

CWE-51 Sibling

Path Equivalence: '/multiple//internal/slash'

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths containing multiple consecutive forward slashes (e.g.,…

CWE-52 Sibling

Path Equivalence: '/multiple/trailing/slash//'

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts file or directory paths containing multiple consecutive forward slashes (like…

Ressourcen

Further reading

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