CVE-2007-5979 in Firepass 4100
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in download_plugin.php3 in F5 Firepass 4100 SSL VPN 5.4 through 5.5.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the backurl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The CVE-2007-5979 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the F5 Firepass 4100 SSL VPN appliance, specifically within the download_plugin.php3 component. This vulnerability affects multiple versions including 5.4 through 5.5.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.1, making it a widespread issue across a significant portion of the Firepass product line. The flaw resides in the improper validation of the backurl parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of input sanitization in the backurl parameter processing within the download_plugin.php3 script. When a user navigates to the vulnerable page and provides a malicious backurl value, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into the HTTP response. This allows attackers to craft specially formatted URLs that, when accessed by victims, execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands within the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5979 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the SSL VPN environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive network resources, or establish persistent access to the corporate network through the compromised SSL VPN session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations using F5 Firepass appliances for remote access, as it directly undermines the security model that these appliances are designed to provide. This flaw creates a potential attack vector that could enable adversaries to bypass the SSL VPN's authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to internal network resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Firepass appliances to the latest available versions that address the XSS flaw. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the network level, such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious backurl parameter values. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution in the browser context. Security teams should also conduct thorough network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and implement monitoring for suspicious URL patterns. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1566.001 and T1071.004, requiring defensive measures such as network traffic analysis and application whitelisting to prevent exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments of SSL VPN configurations and input validation processes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.