CVE-2004-0192 in Gateway Security 5400
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Management Service for Symantec Gateway Security 2.0 allows remote attackers to steal cookies and hijack a management session via a /sgmi URL that contains malicious script, which is not quoted in the resulting error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0192 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Symantec Gateway Security 2.0 Management Service. This weakness resides in how the system handles input validation for the /sgmi URL parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts against unsuspecting users who interact with the management interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes user-supplied input without proper sanitization, resulting in the execution of malicious code within the context of the victim's browser session. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to inject scripts that can capture session cookies and perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and output encoding practices within the Symantec management service. When a malicious script is passed through the /sgmi URL parameter and subsequently rendered in an error page, the system fails to properly quote or escape the input before displaying it to the user. This creates an XSS vector where attackers can inject JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a reflected cross-site scripting attack. The error page generation process does not employ proper HTML escaping or context-aware output encoding, allowing the injected script to be executed as legitimate content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the ability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive management functions within the Symantec Gateway Security appliance. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to view, modify, or delete configuration settings, access sensitive network data, and potentially compromise the entire security infrastructure managed by the appliance. The stolen cookies typically contain session tokens that grant attackers full administrative privileges within the management interface, effectively allowing them to take control of the security appliance without requiring legitimate credentials. This vulnerability represents a significant threat to enterprise network security, as it directly compromises the management capabilities of a critical security device.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and validated before being processed or displayed in any user-facing interface. The implementation of proper HTML escaping and context-aware output encoding is essential to prevent script execution in error pages and other user-generated content areas. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to further limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through web application attacks and T1078.004 for valid accounts usage through session hijacking, making it a critical target for immediate remediation. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the security infrastructure.