CVE-2002-2181 in SonicWall
Summary
by MITRE
SonicWall Content Filtering allows local users to access prohibited web sites via requests to the web site s IP address instead of the domain name.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2181 affects SonicWall Content Filtering appliances, representing a significant security flaw in web content control mechanisms. This issue stems from a fundamental weakness in how the system processes web requests, specifically when users attempt to access prohibited websites through direct IP address access rather than domain name resolution. The vulnerability exploits a gap in the filtering logic that fails to properly validate or restrict access based on IP addresses, effectively bypassing the content filtering controls that should prevent access to restricted web resources. This represents a critical failure in the appliance's network security architecture where the boundary between permitted and prohibited content becomes porous due to inadequate input validation and access control enforcement.
The technical flaw manifests when local users exploit the system's inability to properly correlate IP address requests with the content filtering rules that are typically applied to domain names. When a user accesses a prohibited website directly by its IP address, the filtering system fails to recognize this as a violation of the content restrictions, allowing the connection to proceed. This occurs because the filtering mechanism operates primarily on domain name resolution rather than IP address-based access control, creating a pathway for bypassing security controls through the use of direct IP addressing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network layer where the distinction between legitimate and prohibited content should be clearly enforced, yet the system fails to maintain consistent filtering policies regardless of the access method used.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple bypass capabilities to represent a serious threat to organizational security posture and compliance requirements. Organizations relying on SonicWall Content Filtering appliances for web access control may find their security policies effectively nullified, as local users can circumvent restrictions through simple IP address access. This creates potential exposure to malicious websites, unauthorized access to sensitive content, and violation of corporate acceptable use policies. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where content filtering is critical for regulatory compliance, such as healthcare organizations subject to hipaa requirements or financial institutions governed by pci dss standards, where unauthorized access to prohibited websites could result in significant regulatory penalties and security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive access control measures that address both domain name and IP address filtering mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that content filtering policies are consistently applied regardless of access method, with proper IP address validation and access control enforcement. The implementation of network segmentation, additional firewall rules, and enhanced logging capabilities can help detect and prevent such bypass attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol web protocols, where adversaries may exploit filtering gaps to access prohibited content. Security administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of IP address access that may indicate attempts to bypass content filtering controls, as well as regularly updating and patching SonicWall appliances to address known vulnerabilities in content filtering implementations.