CVE-2009-2344 in Defense Center
Summary
by MITRE
The web-based management interfaces in Sourcefire Defense Center (DC) and 3D Sensor before 4.8.2 allow remote authenticated users to gain privileges via a $admin value for the admin parameter in an edit action to admin/user/user.cgi and unspecified other components.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2344 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting Sourcefire Defense Center and 3D Sensor products prior to version 4.8.2. This issue resides within the web-based management interfaces that are commonly used for network security administration and monitoring purposes. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern administrative access to sensitive system components, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user levels to administrative control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the web application's parameter handling mechanisms. When users access the admin/user/user.cgi component through an edit action, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the admin parameter value. This allows an authenticated user to manipulate the parameter value to $admin, which bypasses normal access controls and grants elevated privileges. The flaw exists in the application logic where user-supplied parameters are directly processed without adequate validation, creating an injection point that can be exploited to manipulate administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables authenticated attackers to gain administrative access to network security appliances that are typically protected by strong access controls. This privilege escalation capability allows threat actors to modify system configurations, access sensitive network data, disable security features, and potentially compromise the entire network monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has already gained user credentials can exploit this flaw to obtain full administrative control. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on Sourcefire products for network security monitoring and protection.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation combined with inadequate privilege checking mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique where adversaries leverage application-level vulnerabilities to elevate their access rights. Organizations using Sourcefire products should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and conducting thorough security assessments of their network monitoring infrastructure. Additionally, implementing strong access control policies, regular security audits, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities can help detect and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and privilege management in web-based administrative interfaces, particularly in security-critical systems where unauthorized access could lead to complete network compromise.