CVE-2007-3097 in FirePass 4100
Summary
by MITRE
my.activation.php3 in F5 FirePass 4100 SSL VPN allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands via shell metacharacters in the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3097 affects the F5 FirePass 4100 SSL VPN appliance, specifically targeting the my.activation.php3 component. This represents a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the authentication processing pipeline, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the username parameter in the my.activation.php3 script. When an attacker submits malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are interpreted by the underlying shell as command delimiters or operators. This allows the attacker to append and execute arbitrary commands on the target system with the privileges of the web application process. The flaw demonstrates a classic command injection vulnerability pattern that aligns with CWE-77, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected SSL VPN appliance. Successful exploitation could enable adversaries to gain unauthorized access to network resources, exfiltrate sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors, or use the compromised appliance as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. Given that the FirePass 4100 serves as a critical gateway for remote access, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise security posture and could facilitate lateral movement attacks.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability exemplifies the importance of input validation and proper sanitization practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework under the command injection technique. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of the affected software version, implementation of proper input validation mechanisms, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns and prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.