CVE-2005-2889 in Firewall-1
Summary
by MITRE
Check Point NGX R60 does not properly verify packets against the predefined service group "CIFS" rule, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2889 affects Check Point NGX R60 firewall software, specifically targeting the packet verification mechanisms within the predefined service group known as "CIFS." This issue represents a critical flaw in the firewall's security policy enforcement capabilities, where the system fails to properly validate network packets against established security rules. The vulnerability exists within the firewall's service group processing logic, which is designed to control and restrict access to specific network services based on predefined configurations. When the firewall encounters packets intended to traverse the CIFS service group, it does not perform adequate validation checks that would normally prevent unauthorized access or data transmission.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and packet inspection within the Check Point NGX R60 security infrastructure. The CIFS service group is typically configured to allow or restrict access to Server Message Block file sharing protocols, which are commonly used for network file sharing operations. However, due to the flawed verification process, attackers can craft packets that appear to conform to the CIFS service group rules while actually bypassing the intended security restrictions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper validation or sanitization of input data, which is classified as CWE-20 by the CWE database. The flaw demonstrates a weakness in the firewall's ability to enforce security policies consistently and accurately.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of networks protected by Check Point NGX R60 firewalls. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially gain unauthorized access to network resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. This could enable data exfiltration, unauthorized file access, or even lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a predefined service group that administrators would expect to function correctly according to established security policies. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the tactic of privilege escalation and lateral movement, where attackers seek to bypass network controls and expand their access within a compromised environment.
Organizations utilizing Check Point NGX R60 systems should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the official security patches provided by Check Point to correct the packet verification logic within the CIFS service group processing. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough reviews of all service group configurations to identify potential inconsistencies or misconfigurations that could compound the risk. Network segmentation strategies should be enhanced to limit the impact of potential exploitation, and monitoring systems should be strengthened to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of network protection beyond the firewall, such as intrusion detection systems and application-level controls, to provide defense-in-depth against potential attackers who might attempt to exploit this weakness. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security infrastructure and proper configuration management to prevent attackers from exploiting known weaknesses in network security controls.