CVE-2000-0287 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability found in the BizDB CGI script bizdb-search.cgi, specifically in version 1.0 of the technology_bizdb product developed by cnc. The vulnerability arises due to improper input sanitization of the 'dbname' parameter, which allows an attacker to inject shell metacharacters. This injection enables the execution of arbitrary commands on the underlying server without any authentication or user interaction. Since the CGI script is accessible remotely over the network, an attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a specially designed HTTP request that includes malicious shell commands embedded within the 'dbname' parameter. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 10.0, indicating the highest severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no authentication required (Au:N), and complete impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:C/I:C/A:C). No patches or fixes are available for this vulnerability, and although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and potential damage make it a critical threat. The vulnerability dates back to 2000, which suggests that affected systems are likely legacy or unmaintained installations still running version 1.0 of BizDB. The root cause is the failure to properly sanitize user input before passing it to a shell command, a classic injection flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary system commands with the privileges of the web server process. This can lead to full system compromise, data theft, data destruction, or use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2000-0287 can be severe if they operate legacy systems running BizDB version 1.0, particularly in sectors relying on outdated web applications or CGI scripts. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business operations, and potential lateral movement within the network. Confidentiality is at high risk due to possible data exfiltration, integrity can be compromised by unauthorized modification or deletion of data, and availability can be affected through denial-of-service conditions or destruction of critical files. Given the vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely, attackers can leverage it to gain a foothold in corporate networks. This is especially critical for organizations in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government, where data breaches can lead to significant legal and reputational consequences. Additionally, the lack of available patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls, increasing operational complexity. The threat is exacerbated by the possibility that some legacy systems may still be exposed to the internet or insufficiently segmented within internal networks.

Since no official patches are available for this vulnerability, European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately identify and isolate any systems running BizDB version 1.0 or the vulnerable bizdb-search.cgi script. 2) Remove or disable the vulnerable CGI script if it is not essential to operations. 3) If the script is required, implement strict input validation and sanitization at the web server or application firewall level to block shell metacharacters and suspicious payloads targeting the 'dbname' parameter. 4) Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. 5) Restrict network access to the affected systems by limiting exposure to trusted internal networks only, using network segmentation and firewall rules. 6) Monitor web server logs and network traffic for unusual requests containing shell metacharacters or attempts to exploit the 'dbname' parameter. 7) Consider migrating to modern, supported database management and web application platforms that do not rely on vulnerable CGI scripts. 8) Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to detect legacy vulnerable components. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on containment, detection, and compensating controls in the absence of patches.