CVE-2010-3752 in Openswan
Summary
by MITRE
programs/pluto/xauth.c in the client in Openswan 2.6.25 through 2.6.28 allows remote authenticated gateways to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in (1) cisco_dns_info or (2) cisco_domain_info data in a packet, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-3302.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3752 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Openswan IPsec implementation that affects versions 2.6.25 through 2.6.28. This vulnerability exists in the client-side component of Openswan, specifically within the programs/pluto/xauth.c file, which handles authentication processes for remote gateways. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system by injecting shell metacharacters into network packets containing cisco_dns_info or cisco_domain_info data fields. This represents a significant security risk as it enables attackers who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and potentially gain complete control over the IPsec gateway.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the xauth.c module of Openswan's pluto daemon. When processing authentication packets containing Cisco-specific DNS or domain information, the system fails to properly escape or filter special shell characters such as semicolons, ampersands, backticks, and other metacharacters that could be interpreted by the underlying shell during command execution. This improper handling of user-supplied data creates a classic command injection vulnerability that falls under the CWE-77 category, specifically CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command. The vulnerability operates at the application level where network packets are processed and interpreted, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through legitimate network communication channels that are already established for normal IPsec operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3752 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to the entire network infrastructure protected by the vulnerable IPsec gateway. An authenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the pluto daemon process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions to manage IPsec connections and security policies. This could result in data exfiltration, network reconnaissance, lateral movement within the protected network, and potential disruption of critical security services. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to the IPsec gateway, which may be less strictly controlled than other network access points, and the attack can be executed through legitimate network traffic that would not immediately raise suspicion.
Organizations running affected versions of Openswan should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves upgrading to a patched version of Openswan, as the vulnerability was resolved in subsequent releases through proper input validation and sanitization of the affected data fields. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the exposure of IPsec gateways to untrusted networks, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious packet patterns containing shell metacharacters in Cisco-specific fields can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: Shell Script, as it enables attackers to execute commands through shell interpretation, and T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as exploitation may occur through legitimate authentication processes that could be compromised through social engineering or credential theft attacks.