CVE-2002-0528 in SOHO Firewall
Summary
by MITRE
Watchguard SOHO firewall 5.0.35 unpredictably disables certain IP restrictions for customized services that were set before the administrator upgrades to 5.0.35, which could allow remote attackers to bypass the intended access control rules.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0528 affects Watchguard SOHO firewall version 5.0.35 and represents a critical access control bypass issue stemming from improper handling of configuration data during software upgrades. This flaw specifically impacts customized services where administrators had previously established IP restrictions, creating a scenario where security policies are inadvertently weakened or eliminated during the upgrade process. The vulnerability operates as a configuration management failure that undermines the fundamental security posture of the firewall appliance.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the upgrade process implementation where the firewall software fails to properly migrate or preserve existing IP restriction rules for customized services. When administrators upgrade from earlier versions to 5.0.35, certain configuration elements related to access control are not consistently maintained, resulting in unpredictable behavior where some IP restrictions are disabled while others remain active. This creates a fragmented security policy landscape where attackers can exploit the inconsistent enforcement of access controls. The vulnerability is classified as a configuration management issue that aligns with CWE-254, representing a weakness in the security configuration process.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-0528 is significant as it allows remote attackers to bypass intended access control measures that were previously established by administrators. This creates an attack surface where unauthorized access to network resources becomes possible, potentially enabling data exfiltration, system compromise, or further network infiltration. The unpredictability of which IP restrictions are disabled makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as administrators may not immediately detect the security degradation, leaving systems exposed to exploitation for extended periods. The vulnerability directly impacts the firewall's ability to enforce network access controls, undermining its core security function.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate administrative action including thorough configuration reviews and backup restoration procedures before any upgrade operations. Organizations should implement comprehensive testing of firewall configurations in isolated environments before deploying the 5.0.35 upgrade across production networks. The recommended approach involves creating detailed configuration snapshots and maintaining rollback procedures to restore previous working states. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and layered security controls to reduce the impact of potential access control bypasses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1071.001 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers could exploit the weakened access controls to gain unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper configuration management and change control processes in maintaining network security postures.