CVE-2001-0133 in Interscan Viruswall
Summary
by MITRE
The web administration interface for Interscan VirusWall 3.6.x and earlier does not use encryption, which could allow remote attackers to obtain the administrator password to sniff the administrator password via the setpasswd.cgi program or other HTTP GET requests that contain base64 encoded usernames and passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0133 represents a critical security flaw in the Interscan VirusWall 3.6.x series web administration interface. This issue stems from the complete absence of encryption mechanisms within the web-based management system, creating an environment where sensitive authentication credentials can be easily intercepted and exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects the setpasswd.cgi program and other HTTP GET requests that transmit base64 encoded authentication information, fundamentally undermining the security posture of the network protection system.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the improper handling of authentication credentials through unencrypted HTTP communications. When administrators access the web interface to manage virus protection settings, the system transmits usernames and passwords using base64 encoding without any additional encryption or security measures. This base64 encoding, while often mistaken for encryption, provides no actual security protection since it can be easily decoded by anyone who intercepts the network traffic. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web administration interface components that handle user authentication and password management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Interscan VirusWall 3.6.x or earlier versions. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness through passive network sniffing techniques to capture administrator credentials transmitted over the network. Once obtained, these credentials provide full administrative access to the virus protection system, allowing attackers to modify security policies, disable protection mechanisms, or gain unauthorized control over the entire network security infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the organization's primary network protection system, potentially enabling broader attacks against the internal network.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues), demonstrating the critical importance of proper encryption implementation in web applications. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing), as attackers can leverage stolen administrative credentials to establish persistent access and potentially expand their attack surface. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to newer versions of Interscan VirusWall that support encrypted communications, implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, and deploying network monitoring tools to detect and prevent credential interception attempts.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate attention through software upgrades to versions that implement proper HTTPS encryption and secure authentication mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement network access controls that restrict administrative access to trusted networks only, deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious HTTP traffic patterns, and establish regular security assessments to identify similar unencrypted communication channels within their infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for encryption implementation in all network communications, particularly those involving administrative access to security-critical systems, as outlined in security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure communication protocols.