Double encoded URL requests must be prohibited by any IIS 8.5 website.

From IIS 8.5 Site Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-001094

SV-91521r1_rule Double encoded URL requests must be prohibited by any IIS 8.5 website.

Vulnerability discussion

Request filtering enables administrators to create a more granular rule set with which to allow or reject inbound web content. By setting limits on web requests, it ensures availability of web services and mitigates the risk of buffer overflow type attacks. When the “Allow double escaping” option is disabled it prevents attacks that rely on double-encoded requests.

Check content

Follow the procedures below for each site hosted on the IIS 8.5 web server: Open the IIS 8.5 Manager. Click on the site name. Double-click the "Request Filtering" icon. Click “Edit Feature Settings” in the "Actions" pane. If the "Allow double escaping" check box is checked, this is a finding.

Fix text

Follow the procedures below for each site hosted on the IIS 8.5 web server: Open the IIS 8.5 Manager. Click the site name under review. Double-click the "Request Filtering" icon. Click “Edit Feature Settings” in the "Actions" pane. Uncheck the "Allow double escaping" check box.

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.