CVE-2007-6500 in Hosting Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete "gateway information" via a request to OpenApi/GatewayVariables.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6500 resides within Hosting Controller version 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier systems, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate gateway information through specific API endpoints. This issue manifests in the OpenApi/GatewayVariables.asp component where unauthorized modifications can be made to critical network gateway configurations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data modification as it directly affects the underlying infrastructure connectivity and network communication pathways that hosting environments rely upon for proper operation.
This security weakness falls under the category of insufficient authorization controls and improper access validation within web applications, aligning with CWE-285 which addresses insufficient authorization vulnerabilities. The flaw operates by allowing authenticated users to submit crafted requests that bypass normal access controls for gateway variable management, effectively enabling privilege escalation or unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and access control enforcement where the system fails to properly verify user permissions before executing sensitive operations on network gateway parameters.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are substantial for hosting environments that depend on proper gateway configurations for network connectivity and service delivery. When exploited, attackers can manipulate routing information, alter network parameters, or disrupt connectivity between hosting services and external networks. This capability can lead to complete service disruption, data interception, or unauthorized access to network resources that should remain protected. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for cloud hosting environments where multiple customers share infrastructure resources.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a potential entry point for broader attacks within hosting infrastructures, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access through application vulnerabilities. The attack vector specifically targets the OpenApi interface which represents a common attack surface for web-based management systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including access control hardening, input validation enforcement, and network segmentation to prevent unauthorized modifications to gateway configurations. Regular security assessments of API endpoints and comprehensive monitoring of gateway variable changes should be implemented as part of ongoing security operations to detect potential exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms in management interfaces, particularly those handling critical infrastructure parameters. System administrators should ensure that all API endpoints undergo rigorous security testing and that access controls are properly enforced for sensitive operations. Patch management processes should be prioritized for affected Hosting Controller installations, with immediate updates applied to resolve the authorization bypass condition. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to alert on unusual gateway configuration changes, providing visibility into potential exploitation attempts and supporting incident response activities.