CVE-2010-5147 in Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
The Remote Filtering component in Websense Web Security and Web Filter before 6.3.3 Hotfix 18 and 7.x before 7.1.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon exit) via a large volume of traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5147 affects the Remote Filtering component within Websense Web Security and Web Filter products, specifically impacting versions prior to 6.3.3 Hotfix 18 and 7.x versions before 7.1.1. This issue represents a classic denial of service weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt the availability of critical web filtering services. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes an excessive volume of traffic, leading to daemon termination and subsequent service disruption. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-400, which categorizes improper handling of resource consumption as a fundamental weakness in software design. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, potentially compromising network security operations by rendering the web filtering service inoperative.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the Remote Filtering component's inadequate handling of high-volume network traffic patterns. When subjected to a large volume of traffic, the component fails to properly manage resource allocation and processing capacity, ultimately causing the daemon process to terminate unexpectedly. This behavior creates a cascading effect where legitimate network traffic cannot be properly filtered or inspected, effectively breaking the security posture of the organization. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes the use of resource exhaustion attacks to cause denial of service conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting traffic patterns that overwhelm the system's processing capabilities, leading to the daemon exit and service disruption. The lack of proper traffic rate limiting and resource management within the filtering component creates an exploitable condition that directly impacts system availability.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-5147 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise broader network security operations. Organizations relying on Websense Web Security solutions may experience complete loss of web filtering capabilities, leaving their networks vulnerable to malicious web traffic and potential security breaches. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target the system from external networks without requiring physical access or elevated privileges within the local network. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where web filtering services are critical for maintaining security policies and preventing unauthorized access to malicious websites. The daemon termination creates a window of opportunity for attackers to bypass security controls, potentially allowing malicious traffic to pass through the network without proper inspection or filtering. Organizations may also face regulatory compliance issues if their security infrastructure becomes unavailable due to this vulnerability, particularly in industries with strict data protection requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5147 should focus on immediate patch application to the affected Websense products, ensuring that all systems are updated to versions 6.3.3 Hotfix 18 or 7.1.1 and later. Network administrators should implement traffic monitoring and rate limiting measures to detect and prevent abnormal traffic patterns that could trigger the vulnerability. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual traffic volumes or patterns targeting the vulnerable component. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant web filtering solutions to maintain security coverage in case of primary system failures. From a defensive perspective, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper resource management and input validation in security software components, aligning with security best practices recommended by NIST SP 800-44 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security components, ensuring comprehensive protection against resource exhaustion attacks that could compromise system availability and overall network security posture.