CVE-2007-6406 in eTrust Threat Management Console
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in CA (formerly Computer Associates) eTrust Threat Management Console allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the IP Address field and other unspecified fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The CVE-2007-6406 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the CA eTrust Threat Management Console, a network security solution designed to monitor and manage threat detection systems. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a cross-site scripting weakness, which fundamentally compromises the integrity of web-based security interfaces. The affected system operates as a centralized management console that administrators use to configure and monitor security policies across network infrastructure, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise security controls. The vulnerability specifically affects the IP Address field and multiple unspecified input parameters within the web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious script code into input fields that are not properly sanitized or validated. When users interact with the console, particularly when viewing or processing data entered into the IP Address field and other affected parameters, the malicious code executes in the victim's browser context. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, defacing the console interface, or executing unauthorized administrative commands. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's processing pipeline, specifically failing to properly escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or script tags.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-6406 extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of organizations relying on the eTrust Threat Management Console. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors within the security infrastructure, potentially compromising the integrity of threat detection and response capabilities. The vulnerability affects the availability and confidentiality of security data, as malicious actors can inject code that exfiltrates sensitive information or modifies security policies. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically web shell deployment, and T1566.001 for spearphishing with malicious attachments, as it enables attackers to create persistent access points within the security management infrastructure. Organizations using this console may experience cascading security failures where a single compromised management interface leads to broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6406 should focus on immediate input validation improvements and comprehensive web application security hardening. Organizations must implement proper HTML escaping and output encoding for all user-supplied data, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped before rendering in web interfaces. Input validation should be strengthened to reject or sanitize potentially malicious content, particularly focusing on common XSS attack patterns such as script tags, event handlers, and javascript protocols. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the management console to trusted networks only. Security patches and updates from CA should be applied immediately, as this vulnerability was addressed through proper sanitization of input fields and implementation of Content Security Policy headers. Additionally, regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's attack surface, following industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-53 security controls.