CVE-2006-2356 in WhatsUp Professional
Summary
by MITRE
NmConsole/utility/RenderMap.asp in Ipswitch WhatsUp Professional 2006 and WhatsUp Professional 2006 Premium allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about network nodes via a modified nDeviceGroupID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2356 affects Ipswitch WhatsUp Professional 2006 and its Premium edition, specifically targeting the NmConsole/utility/RenderMap.asp component. This issue represents a classic information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive network topology data through manipulation of the nDeviceGroupID parameter. The vulnerability resides within the web application's rendering mechanism that processes device group identifiers, creating an avenue for unauthorized data access.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts a modified nDeviceGroupID parameter value that bypasses normal access controls and authorization checks. This parameter manipulation allows the application to return detailed information about network nodes including device configurations, network mappings, and potentially sensitive infrastructure details. The flaw essentially enables an attacker to enumerate network assets and gather intelligence about the target environment without proper authentication or authorization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes critical network infrastructure information that could be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The disclosure of network node details provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data including device types, network topology, and potential entry points for further exploitation. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure issues where sensitive data is made available to unauthorized actors. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it a significant threat to network security.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and access control enforcement within the web application. Attackers can manipulate the nDeviceGroupID parameter to traverse different network groupings and extract information about various network segments. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper authorization checking, allowing unauthorized access to network topology information that should remain restricted to authorized administrators.
Organizations utilizing Ipswitch WhatsUp Professional 2006 should implement immediate mitigations including patching the application to address the parameter validation flaw, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected web application, and conducting comprehensive network asset inventory reviews. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1590 (Network Target Identification) as attackers can use this information to map network targets and plan subsequent attacks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, parameter sanitization, and access control mechanisms would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous parameter manipulation patterns in web application logs, as this type of reconnaissance activity could indicate attempted exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities.