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Q197464: How to Detect the ::$DATA Attack in IIS Log Files

Article: Q197464
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): winnt:1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 24-FEB-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

As a result of a problem with Internet Information Server (IIS) and NTFS
Alternate Data Streams, administrators may want to determine if their server was
"attacked" by Internet users attempting to gain access to source text.

MORE INFORMATION
================

IIS is configured by default to log access to the server. When logging is
enabled and a request is made from a browser to IIS using Alternate Data Streams
(for example http://myserver/file.asp::$DATA), IIS writes this information to
the log file. By analyzing the log files kept by the server, any attempted
access to source code can be determined.

The following examples show what a request to the "/default.asp" page of a server
would look like if an attempt was made to view the file's source code:

  W3C Extended Log File Format:

     11:25:12 10.0.0.5 GET /default.asp::$DATA 200
     11:26:07 10.0.0.5 GET /default.asp::$DATA 304
     11:54:04 10.0.0.5 GET /default.asp::$DATA 200

  NCSA Common Log File Format:

     10.0.0.5 - - [02/Jul/1998:11:25:12 -0600] "GET /default.asp::$DATA
     HTTP/1.1" 200 13388
     10.0.0.5 - - [02/Jul/1998:11:26:07 -0600] "GET /default.asp::$DATA
     HTTP/1.1" 304 123
     10.0.0.5 - - [02/Jul/1998:11:54:04 -0600] "GET /default.asp::$DATA
     HTTP/1.1" 200 12219

  Microsoft IIS Log File Format:

     10.0.0.5,-
     ,02/Jul/1998,11:25:12,W3SVC,SERVER1,10.0.0.2,163,13388,200,0,GET,/de
     fault.asp::$DATA
     10.0.0.5,-
     ,02/Jul/1998,11:26:07,W3SVC,SERVER1,10.0.0.2,163,123,304,0,GET,/defa
     ult.asp::$DATA
     10.0.0.5,-
     ,02/Jul/1998,11:54:04,W3SVC,SERVER1,10.0.0.2,163,12219,200,0,GET,/de
     fault.asp::$DATA

Additional query words:

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis400 kbiis300 kbiis200 kbiis100
Version           : winnt:1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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