CVE-2007-5562 in SSL312
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in cgi-bin/welcome (aka the login page) in Netgear SSL312 PROSAFE SSL VPN-Concentrator 25 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the err parameter in the context of an error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The CVE-2007-5562 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Netgear SSL312 PROSAFE SSL VPN-Concentrator 25 device. This vulnerability specifically targets the cgi-bin/welcome script which serves as the login page for the VPN concentrator. The flaw manifests when the device processes error conditions and displays error messages through the err parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The vulnerability exists in the context of an error page, making it particularly dangerous as users may encounter this page during legitimate authentication attempts or when encountering system issues. This XSS vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious code in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive network resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the device's insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. When an error occurs during the authentication process, the system constructs error messages by directly incorporating user-supplied input from the err parameter into the HTML response without proper sanitization. This primitive form of input handling creates an XSS vector where attackers can embed malicious JavaScript code within the error parameter. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape or validate user-controllable data before including it in web page output. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerable component serves as the primary authentication interface for the VPN concentrator, making it a critical entry point for attackers seeking to compromise network security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal authentication credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could manipulate the error page to display phishing content that mimics legitimate authentication prompts, tricking users into revealing their credentials. The vulnerability also enables more sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft, where malicious scripts could extract session cookies and transmit them to attacker-controlled servers. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 'Phishing' and T1071.004 'Application Layer Protocol: DNS' as attackers could use the XSS to redirect users or steal data. The presence of this vulnerability in a VPN concentrator represents a severe risk to enterprise security, as it allows attackers to bypass network perimeter defenses and potentially gain unauthorized access to internal network resources that would otherwise be protected by the VPN infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5562 should prioritize immediate remediation through firmware updates provided by Netgear, as the vulnerability affects a core authentication component. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected device and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious XSS payloads. Input validation measures must be strengthened to ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into error messages or any other web page content. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual error page access patterns and malformed input parameters that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the age of this vulnerability and the device model, organizations should consider migrating to modern VPN solutions that have robust security features and regular security updates. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in network infrastructure devices, emphasizing that even authentication interfaces must be protected against common web application vulnerabilities.