CVE-2008-2030 in Rising
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in installControl.php3 in F5 FirePass 4100 SSL VPN 5.4.2-5.5.2 and 6.0-6.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2030 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the F5 FirePass 4100 SSL VPN appliance version 5.4.2 through 5.5.2 and 6.0 through 6.2. This security weakness resides within the installControl.php3 component of the web interface, making it accessible to remote attackers who can exploit it without requiring authentication or physical access to the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of query string parameters, which are commonly used in web applications to pass data between client and server. When users interact with the vulnerable web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into the application's response. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a vulnerability where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection. The affected FirePass 4100 appliance serves as a critical network security component, providing secure remote access to corporate networks through SSL VPN functionality, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to bypass the very security measures designed to protect network access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access to the compromised system. When an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the vulnerable query string parameter, they can execute scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no specialized tools or deep technical knowledge to exploit, as the vulnerability exists in the standard web interface usage patterns. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by an authenticated user, execute the injected code within the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on the FirePass appliance for secure remote access, as it undermines the fundamental security model of the SSL VPN solution. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges suggests it was likely a persistent issue that required patching across several releases, indicating the severity of the flaw and the need for immediate remediation efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2030 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from F5, as the vulnerability represents a critical security risk that could lead to complete compromise of the SSL VPN infrastructure. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, including logging and analyzing unusual query string patterns in web traffic. The implementation of a web application firewall (WAF) can provide additional protection layers by filtering malicious input before it reaches the vulnerable application components. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the same application or related systems. Network administrators should disable unnecessary web services and ensure that only authorized users can access the vulnerable interface. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links and the importance of maintaining updated browser security settings can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding practices, which are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks and should be implemented across all web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, providing an additional defense mechanism against this class of vulnerability. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network security appliances and web applications that may be subject to similar exploitation vectors.