CVE-2009-0467 in Profense Web Application Firewall
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in proxy.html in Profense Web Application Firewall 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the proxy parameter in a deny_log manage action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
The CVE-2009-0467 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Profense Web Application Firewall version 2.6.2 and 2.6.3, specifically affecting the proxy.html component. This vulnerability resides in the firewall's management interface where it processes the deny_log manage action, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code through web script injection. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the proxy parameter handling functionality, which fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into the web response. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness that occurs when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical web application security concerns as it compromises the very security mechanism designed to protect web applications. An attacker exploiting this flaw can manipulate the firewall's logging and denial functionality to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser of administrators or other users interacting with the Profense management interface. This creates a dangerous escalation path where attackers can potentially access sensitive administrative functions, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions within the firewall management system, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers do not require physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this firewall for protection. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this affects a core component of the web application firewall, potentially allowing attackers to bypass other security controls or even to compromise the underlying web applications the firewall is meant to protect.
Organizations utilizing Profense Web Application Firewall versions 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 face significant risk from this vulnerability as it represents a fundamental flaw in the security architecture of their protection systems. The attack vector follows standard XSS exploitation patterns where malicious input is crafted to include script tags or other HTML elements that execute when processed by the browser. This vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering through malicious content and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The remediation approach requires immediate patching or upgrading to versions that address the input validation issues, along with implementing additional security measures such as content security policies, input sanitization at multiple layers, and regular security assessments of web application firewalls. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for anomalous behavior in their firewall management interfaces to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in security-critical components, as even protective systems can become attack vectors when they fail to properly handle user input.