CVE-2009-4608 in ACCESSGUARDIAN
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Canon IT Solutions Inc. ACCESSGUARDIAN 3.0.14 and earlier, and 3.5.6 and earlier, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors related to authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2019
The CVE-2009-4608 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Canon IT Solutions Inc. ACCESSGUARDIAN software versions 3.0.14 and earlier, as well as 3.5.6 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the authentication handling mechanisms of the security solution, creating a dangerous attack surface that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's authentication processes, potentially compromising user sessions and system integrity. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent security weakness means it affects the core authentication functionality of the security solution, undermining the very purpose of the software which is to protect against unauthorized access and maintain secure network environments.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors related to authentication processes, suggesting that the flaw exists in how the application handles user credentials, session management, or authentication redirects. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that would execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirecting them to malicious sites. The vulnerability's presence in both major version branches indicates a fundamental design flaw in the input validation and output encoding mechanisms of the authentication system. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior during login or authentication procedures, potentially leading to complete account compromise or privilege escalation within the security infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4608 extends beyond simple script injection, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of the ACCESSGUARDIAN security solution. When attackers can inject malicious scripts during authentication, they gain the ability to intercept user credentials, manipulate authentication flows, and potentially escalate privileges within the network security framework. This vulnerability directly violates security principles of input sanitization and output encoding, creating persistent threats that could be exploited across multiple user sessions. The risk is particularly severe because the authentication process is a critical component of network security, and compromising this functionality could allow attackers to bypass other security controls, gain unauthorized access to protected systems, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks against legitimate users.
Organizations utilizing affected ACCESSGUARDIAN versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation improvements, output encoding enhancements, and comprehensive security patching. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566, which involves social engineering through malicious web content. Recommended remediation strategies include implementing strict input validation on all authentication-related parameters, deploying proper output encoding for dynamic content, and establishing robust content security policies. Additionally, network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, and user education regarding phishing attempts should be implemented to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in authentication systems where input validation failures can lead to complete system compromise and undermine enterprise security postures.