CVE-2002-2108 in VAIO Manual Cybersupport
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in the "VAIO Manual" software in certain Sony VAIO personal computers sold from November 2001 to January 2002, allows remote attackers to modify data via a web page or HTML e-mail.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2108 represents a significant security flaw in the VAIO Manual software component that was pre-installed on specific Sony VAIO personal computers manufactured between November 2001 and January 2002. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's web-based interface handling capabilities, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through web-based attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically affects the software's ability to process untrusted HTML content, particularly when delivered through web pages or email messages, allowing unauthorized modification of system data. The affected hardware platform represents a critical point of concern given that these devices were widely deployed in corporate and consumer environments during the early 2000s era when mobile computing was rapidly expanding.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient sanitization of HTML content within the VAIO Manual application, which operates as a local software component designed to provide documentation and user guides for the VAIO system. When users encounter specially crafted HTML content through web browsers or email clients that interact with the VAIO Manual software, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming data before processing it. This allows attackers to inject malicious HTML code that can manipulate system files, modify configuration settings, or potentially execute unauthorized commands on the affected system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the software's data handling routines, creating a persistent threat vector that could be exploited remotely through web-based delivery mechanisms. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, though it extends beyond typical web applications to encompass desktop software components that process web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to affected systems, potentially using the VAIO Manual software as a foothold for more extensive attacks within corporate networks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability through web pages or email messages creates a significant risk for organizations that may have these devices connected to internal networks, as the attack surface expands beyond individual endpoints to potentially affect entire network infrastructures. The timing of the vulnerability's introduction, coinciding with a period when mobile computing was becoming mainstream, meant that many users were accessing web content regularly, increasing the exposure window for exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in all software components, including those that may seem benign or documentation-focused.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2108 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Sony to address the input validation issues within the VAIO Manual application. Organizations should implement network-based security controls including email filtering systems that can detect and block suspicious HTML content, particularly when delivered through email clients that may interact with the vulnerable software. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can monitor and filter traffic to prevent malicious HTML injection attempts targeting the affected software components. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive software inventory management to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy applications that may not receive ongoing security updates. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through web-based delivery methods and privilege escalation through application-specific exploits, emphasizing the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Regular security assessments should include evaluation of embedded software components and documentation tools that may present unexpected attack surfaces, particularly in devices that combine multiple software functionalities within single platforms.