CVE-2007-4043 in SecurityReporter
Summary
by MITRE
file.cgi in Secure Computing SecurityReporter (aka Network Security Analyzer) before 4.6.3 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a name parameter ending with a "%00.gif" sequence. NOTE: a separate traversal vulnerability could be leveraged to download arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4043 affects Secure Computing SecurityReporter, also known as Network Security Analyzer, version 4.6.2 and earlier. This security flaw resides within the file.cgi component of the application and represents a critical authentication bypass issue that could enable remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the name parameter in the file.cgi script contains a "%00.gif" sequence at its end, allowing malicious actors to circumvent the intended authentication mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling within the file.cgi script. The "%00" sequence represents a null byte in URL encoding, which when appended to the name parameter can potentially manipulate the application's internal processing logic. This manipulation occurs because many web applications do not properly sanitize input parameters before processing them, particularly when dealing with file operations and authentication checks. The null byte injection allows the attacker to effectively terminate strings prematurely, potentially bypassing authentication checks that would normally validate user credentials or access permissions. This issue aligns with CWE-170, which addresses improper handling of null bytes in input validation, and represents a classic example of a buffer over-read or string termination vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass authentication entirely, gaining access to administrative functions and sensitive system resources. The vulnerability becomes even more dangerous when combined with a separate file traversal issue that could be leveraged to download arbitrary files from the system. This dual vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to not only gain unauthorized access but also to potentially extract confidential data, modify system configurations, or escalate privileges within the network security analyzer environment. The combination of authentication bypass and arbitrary file download capabilities provides attackers with comprehensive control over the affected system, making it a critical security concern for organizations relying on Secure Computing SecurityReporter for network monitoring and security analysis.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Secure Computing SecurityReporter version 4.6.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this authentication bypass vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block null byte injection attempts, and restrict access to the file.cgi endpoint through network segmentation and access control lists. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the dangers of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in web applications, particularly those handling security-critical functions. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to ensure no other similar issues exist within their network security infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent null byte injection attacks, which are commonly categorized under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1190 for exploitation of known vulnerabilities.