CVE-2002-2341 in SOHO3
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in content blocking in SonicWALL SOHO3 6.3.0.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a blocked URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2341 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the content blocking functionality of SonicWALL SOHO3 6.3.0.0 firewall appliances. This security weakness resides in how the system processes and displays blocked URLs within its user interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the context of authenticated users. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the content filtering subsystem, where user-supplied URL data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web-based management interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL that gets blocked by the SonicWALL appliance's content filtering rules. When the system displays this blocked URL in its administrative interface, the improperly sanitized input allows the embedded script code to execute within the browser context of any user viewing the blocked content list. This behavior aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where web applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated web pages. The flaw represents a classic case of reflected XSS, where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response rather than being stored in a database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, or manipulate the firewall configuration through malicious JavaScript payloads. An attacker could potentially redirect users to phishing sites, inject malicious content into the firewall's management interface, or even execute arbitrary commands on the appliance if additional vulnerabilities exist within the system. The attack requires minimal privileges since it targets the web interface rather than requiring direct system access, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who regularly access the appliance's management console.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2341 should focus on immediate remediation through official firmware updates provided by SonicWALL, as the vendor would have released patches addressing the input validation shortcomings in their content filtering module. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit direct access to the firewall's administrative interface, requiring authentication through jump servers or dedicated management networks. Additional protective measures include configuring the appliance to disable unnecessary web-based management features, implementing strict access controls for administrative accounts, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS payloads. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input sanitization practices and follows ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through web application exploitation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of administrative interfaces and user input handling mechanisms in network security appliances.