CVE-2008-2637 in Rising
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in F5 FirePass SSL VPN 6.0.2 hotfix 3, and possibly earlier versions, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via quotes in (1) the css_exceptions parameter in vdesk/admincon/webyfiers.php and (2) the sql_matchscope parameter in vdesk/admincon/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The CVE-2008-2637 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting F5 FirePass SSL VPN versions 6.0.2 hotfix 3 and potentially earlier releases. This vulnerability resides within the web interface administration components of the FirePass platform, specifically targeting two distinct parameter handling mechanisms that process user input without proper sanitization. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate resources. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that FirePass SSL VPN solutions are widely deployed in enterprise environments for secure remote access, making this a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to corporate networks.
The technical exploitation occurs through two specific vectors within the FirePass administration interface. The first vulnerability exists in the css_exceptions parameter within the vdesk/admincon/webyfiers.php file where user-supplied quotes are not properly escaped or validated before being rendered back to the browser. The second vector targets the sql_matchscope parameter in vdesk/admincon/index.php, where similar input validation failures allow malicious payloads to be injected. Both vulnerabilities stem from inadequate input sanitization practices and demonstrate a classic lack of proper output encoding mechanisms. These flaws align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from insufficient input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability's classification as remote and unauthenticated further amplifies its danger, as attackers can exploit it without requiring prior access credentials to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate administrative functions and potentially gain elevated privileges within the VPN environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify firewall rules, alter user access permissions, or redirect traffic to malicious endpoints. The vulnerability affects the core administrative interface of the FirePass platform, meaning that any authenticated user with administrative privileges could be compromised, or attackers could potentially escalate their privileges through session manipulation. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting, as the XSS could be leveraged to capture session tokens or credentials. Organizations using FirePass VPN solutions were particularly at risk since these devices often serve as gateways to critical internal systems, making the compromise of administrative interfaces extremely damaging to overall network security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2637 require immediate patching of affected FirePass SSL VPN appliances to the latest available security updates from F5. Organizations should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level to prevent similar issues in other web applications. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all SSL VPN implementations and ensure proper web application firewall rules are deployed to filter malicious input. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices in web application development, particularly for administrative interfaces that handle sensitive configuration data. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls and monitoring for administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and limit the damage from successful attacks.