CVE-2002-1519 in Rapidstream
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in the CLI interface for WatchGuard Firebox Vclass 3.2 and earlier, and RSSA Appliance 3.0.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in the password parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2018
This vulnerability resides in the command line interface of WatchGuard Firebox Vclass 3.2 and earlier versions, as well as the RSSA Appliance 3.0.2, representing a critical format string flaw that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of password parameters within the authentication process, where the system fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before processing it through format string functions. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious format specifiers that can manipulate the program's execution flow and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a format string vulnerability, which corresponds to CWE-134 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, where a program uses user-supplied data as a format string without proper validation. The affected systems process the password parameter through functions like printf or sprintf without adequate input sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit the flaw through carefully crafted malicious input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential path to complete system compromise. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability through the password parameter, they can cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt legitimate network operations. However, the more severe implications involve potential code execution, which could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system, escalate privileges, or deploy malicious payloads. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous for network security infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers could leverage the format string vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands through the compromised interface.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting specially formatted password inputs that contain format specifiers such as %x, %s, or %n, which can be used to read memory addresses, write to arbitrary memory locations, or cause the application to crash. Attackers may also use these techniques to bypass authentication mechanisms or escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability affects systems where the CLI interface handles user authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network security appliances that rely on strong authentication mechanisms. Organizations using affected versions of WatchGuard Firebox or RSSA appliances face significant risk, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to compromise the entire security infrastructure. The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of the affected software versions, as well as implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent format string specifiers from being processed as legitimate input parameters, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network security components.