CVE-2002-0539 in Puresecure
Summary
by MITRE
Demarc PureSecure 1.05 allows remote attackers to gain administrative privileges via a SQL injection attack in a session ID that is stored in the s_key cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0539 affects Demarc PureSecure 1.05, a network security appliance designed to provide intrusion prevention and network access control. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to full administrative access. The vulnerability manifests through a SQL injection attack vector that specifically targets the session management mechanism of the device. The attack exploits the improper handling of session identifiers stored within the s_key cookie, which serves as the primary authentication token for user sessions within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web interface of the PureSecure appliance. When users authenticate to the system, their session information is stored in a cookie named s_key, which contains a session identifier that is subsequently processed through SQL queries without proper sanitization. This creates an environment where maliciously crafted session identifiers can contain SQL commands that are executed against the underlying database. The vulnerability is classified as a SQL injection attack under CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, and falls under the broader category of CWE-20, which encompasses input validation and sanitization failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Demarc PureSecure appliances for network security. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains complete administrative control over the device, which can lead to unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and complete compromise of the security infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security appliances are exposed to external traffic. The compromised device can then be used as a pivot point for further attacks within the network, potentially enabling lateral movement and escalation of privileges across multiple systems.
The attack vector specifically targets the session management component of the PureSecure appliance, where the s_key cookie serves as the authentication token. When an attacker crafts a malicious session identifier containing SQL injection payloads, the system processes this input through database queries without proper validation. This allows the attacker to manipulate the database directly, potentially extracting sensitive information, modifying user permissions, or gaining full administrative access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the appliance, undermining the fundamental security assumptions of the system. Organizations should consider this weakness in the context of the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category, specifically targeting techniques related to exploitation of vulnerabilities in software components and credential access through database manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0539 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Demarc PureSecure 1.05 appliances, as this represents the most effective solution to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the appliance to only authorized administrative personnel and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication. The appliance configuration should be reviewed to ensure that session management is properly secured with adequate input validation and sanitization measures. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in session cookie usage that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against SQL injection attacks targeting the appliance's web interface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security components that might be susceptible to similar attacks.