CVE-2002-2405 in Firewall-1
Summary
by MITRE
Check Point FireWall-1 4.1 and Next Generation (NG), with UserAuth configured to proxy HTTP traffic only, allows remote attackers to pass unauthorized HTTPS, FTP and possibly other traffic through the firewall.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2405 represents a critical configuration flaw in Check Point FireWall-1 version 4.1 and its Next Generation variant that directly impacts the firewall's ability to enforce secure network traffic filtering. This issue specifically manifests when the UserAuth feature is configured to proxy only HTTP traffic, creating an unintended bypass mechanism that allows unauthorized access to other protocols. The flaw stems from the improper handling of protocol inspection within the firewall's traffic processing pipeline, where the system fails to properly validate and filter traffic types beyond the explicitly configured HTTP proxy settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental misconfiguration in the firewall's protocol handling logic. When UserAuth is set to proxy HTTP traffic only, the system should theoretically restrict all other traffic types including HTTPS, FTP, and potentially additional protocols from traversing the firewall. However, the flaw enables attackers to leverage the existing HTTP proxy infrastructure to tunnel or bypass the intended security controls for other protocol types. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control enforcement where the firewall's security boundaries are compromised through improper protocol validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized network access, as it fundamentally undermines the core security model of the firewall system. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to establish unauthorized connections to secure services that should be blocked by the firewall's access control policies. The implications are particularly severe for HTTPS traffic, which typically carries sensitive data and requires robust security controls, but the vulnerability also affects FTP and potentially other protocols that may carry confidential information. This creates a scenario where attackers can bypass network security controls and potentially access systems that should be protected by the firewall's security policies.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates how misconfigured security controls can create dangerous bypass opportunities for attackers. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a pathway to escalate privileges and access restricted network resources through the firewall's own infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique for "Proxy Traffic" and "Bypass User Account Control" where the firewall's own proxy functionality becomes weaponized against its intended security purpose. Organizations implementing Check Point FireWall-1 systems with UserAuth configured for HTTP proxying must understand that this configuration creates a security boundary that can be easily circumvented, potentially exposing their entire network infrastructure to unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on proper firewall configuration management and protocol handling enforcement. Organizations should immediately disable or reconfigure UserAuth settings that only proxy HTTP traffic when other protocols need to be blocked. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive protocol inspection policies that explicitly define which protocols should be allowed or blocked through the firewall. Additionally, network administrators should implement regular security audits to identify and correct misconfigurations that could create similar bypass opportunities. The firewall should be configured to enforce strict protocol validation that prevents unauthorized tunneling of traffic types through proxy infrastructure, ensuring that the security controls maintain their intended scope and effectiveness.