CVE-2003-0757 in Firewall-1
Summary
by MITRE
Check Point FireWall-1 4.0 and 4.1 before SP5 allows remote attackers to obtain the IP addresses of internal interfaces via certain SecuRemote requests to TCP ports 256 or 264, which leaks the IP addresses in a reply packet.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0757 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Check Point FireWall-1 versions 4.0 and 4.1 prior to Service Pack 5. This security weakness specifically affects the SecuRemote functionality that enables remote access to firewall configurations and network interfaces. The vulnerability operates through a carefully crafted sequence of network requests that exploit the firewall's handling of specific TCP ports, creating an unintended information leak that compromises network security posture.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper processing of SecuRemote requests sent to TCP ports 256 or 264. When these specific ports receive certain malformed or specially crafted requests, the firewall responds with reply packets that inadvertently contain internal IP address information. This occurs because the firewall's response handling logic fails to properly sanitize or filter the information returned in response to these particular request patterns. The flaw essentially allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to probe the internal network topology by observing the IP addresses embedded within the firewall's reply packets, effectively creating a covert channel for network reconnaissance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical network topology information that can be used for further exploitation. The leaked IP addresses reveal internal network structure and potentially expose sensitive internal interfaces that should remain hidden from external observation. This information leakage can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including port scanning, service enumeration, and targeted exploitation of internal systems that might otherwise be protected by network segmentation. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Check Point FireWall-1 for perimeter security, as it undermines the fundamental principle of network isolation and access control.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a classic case of unintended information disclosure through network protocol handling. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1083 File and Directory Discovery, as it enables attackers to gather network topology information that would normally be restricted to internal network administrators. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics consistent with T1590 Indicator Removal on Host, as the leaked information can be used to refine subsequent attack vectors and bypass security controls. Organizations should note that this flaw existed in widely deployed firewall versions, making it a significant concern for enterprises that had not yet applied the necessary service pack updates.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediately applying Check Point Service Pack 5 or higher to all affected FireWall-1 installations running versions 4.0 or 4.1. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper access controls to limit exposure of TCP ports 256 and 264 to trusted networks only, and consider implementing network segmentation to reduce the impact of potential information leaks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other network security devices, as this type of flaw often indicates broader protocol handling issues that may exist elsewhere in the network infrastructure.