CVE-2007-6193 in NetScaler
Summary
by MITRE
The web management interface in Citrix NetScaler 8.0 build 47.8 stores the device s primary IP address in a cookie, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive network configuration information if this address is not the same as the address being used by the web interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6193 affects Citrix NetScaler 8.0 build 47.8 and relates to improper handling of sensitive configuration data within the web management interface. This flaw represents a significant security concern as it exposes network configuration information through an insecure cookie mechanism that persists across sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the device's primary IP address is stored in a cookie, creating an information disclosure risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain insights into the network infrastructure configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the web management interface's design pattern where it stores the device's primary IP address within an HTTP cookie. This cookie contains sensitive network configuration data that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The flaw becomes particularly problematic when the primary IP address differs from the address being used by the web interface, creating a scenario where attackers can potentially infer network topology information through cookie inspection. The storage of such sensitive information in a client-side cookie violates fundamental security principles of information protection and access control.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple attack vectors for remote adversaries seeking to understand the network infrastructure. The disclosure of primary IP addresses can serve as a foundation for further reconnaissance activities, potentially enabling attackers to map network segments and identify potential targets within the organization's infrastructure. Network administrators may find that their security posture is weakened as this information can be leveraged to craft more targeted attacks against other systems within the same network segment. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a low-effort method to gather intelligence that would otherwise require more sophisticated reconnaissance techniques.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-200, which addresses improper information exposure, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1082 for system information discovery. This mapping reflects how the vulnerability enables adversaries to gather system and network configuration information without requiring direct system compromise. Organizations utilizing Citrix NetScaler 8.0 should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape assessment, particularly in environments where network segmentation and access control are critical security requirements. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and output encoding in the web interface components, creating an information leakage channel that can be exploited for reconnaissance purposes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of secure coding practices and configuration hardening. Organizations should ensure that sensitive configuration data is not stored in client-side cookies and that all web interfaces properly validate and sanitize data before storage. The recommended approach includes disabling or modifying the cookie-based storage mechanism for primary IP addresses and implementing proper access controls for management interfaces. Additionally, network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to management interfaces, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces and ensure that all systems are updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability.