CVE-2001-1176 in Firewall-1
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in Check Point VPN-1/FireWall-1 4.1 allows a remote authenticated firewall administrator to execute arbitrary code via format strings in the control connection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1176 represents a critical format string flaw within Check Point VPN-1/FireWall-1 version 4.1 software, specifically affecting the control connection mechanism used by the firewall administration interface. This weakness stems from improper input validation and handling of user-supplied data within the application's string formatting functions, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access to the firewall administration interface, meaning that an attacker who has already gained administrative credentials can potentially escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-134 category of "Use of Externally-Controlled Format String," which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator connects to the firewall control interface and submits specially crafted input that contains format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x within the data fields. These format specifiers, when processed by the vulnerable application without proper sanitization, can cause the program to read from memory locations or write to specific addresses, potentially leading to stack corruption, information disclosure, or code execution. The control connection in question typically handles administrative commands and configuration updates, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain deeper access to the network security infrastructure. The exploitation process can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and potentially T1566 for Phishing, as attackers might need to first gain administrative credentials through social engineering or other means before leveraging this specific vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the firewall infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain complete administrative control over the firewall, allowing them to modify security policies, create backdoors, monitor network traffic, or disable security features entirely. This compromise directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to significant network infiltration, as firewalls serve as critical boundary protection mechanisms. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Check Point's legacy VPN-1/FireWall-1 4.1 implementations, particularly those that may not have implemented proper security updates or patches. Organizations using this specific version face a high risk of lateral movement within their network, as the compromised firewall can be used as a pivot point to attack other systems. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability requires only authentication, meaning that insider threats or compromised credentials can immediately lead to exploitation. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the dangers of using insecure string formatting functions like sprintf, vsprintf, or fprintf without adequate parameter sanitization. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities can result in data breaches, denial of service conditions, and complete compromise of network security posture, making this a critical issue for any organization relying on affected Check Point implementations. Organizations should immediately implement patches from Check Point, review their administrative access controls, and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such compromises. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and the risks associated with running legacy systems without proper security updates.