CVE-2010-5149 in Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
Websense Web Security and Web Filter before 6.3.3 Hotfix 27 and 7.x before 7.1.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Blue Coat appliance integration outage) via a long URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5149 represents a denial of service weakness affecting Websense Web Security and Web Filter appliances across multiple version ranges. This flaw specifically targets the integration functionality with Blue Coat appliances, creating a scenario where malicious actors can disrupt network security operations through carefully crafted long URL inputs. The vulnerability impacts versions prior to 6.3.3 Hotfix 27 and 7.x versions before 7.1.1, indicating a widespread issue affecting the core security infrastructure of many enterprise environments. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the URL processing pipeline of the Websense appliances, particularly when handling integration protocols with Blue Coat security devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the overall security posture of organizations relying on Websense for web filtering and security enforcement. When exploited, the vulnerability causes Blue Coat appliance integration outages, which can result in complete loss of web security monitoring capabilities and potentially leave networks exposed to malicious web traffic. This represents a critical weakness in the defensive infrastructure, as the denial of service affects not just the availability of the Websense appliance itself but also the integration layer that provides essential security functions. The attack vector requires only a remote connection to send a specially crafted long URL, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from anywhere on the internet without requiring authentication or physical access to the network.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input length or size, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Denial of Service' tactic. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition or input validation failure where the system does not properly handle oversized input data during URL processing, leading to system instability and service interruption. Organizations using Websense appliances in their security infrastructure face significant operational risks, as the vulnerability can be exploited to disrupt critical web filtering operations and potentially allow malicious traffic to bypass security controls during the outage period. The long URL attack vector specifically targets the parsing and handling of web addresses, suggesting that the vulnerability exists in the URL normalization or processing components of the Websense security appliance software stack. This type of vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and robust error handling in security appliances, as the failure to properly manage user input can lead to complete service disruption and compromise of enterprise security operations.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches and updates, specifically the 6.3.3 Hotfix 27 and 7.1.1 releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual URL patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and consider implementing additional input validation measures at network boundaries to prevent long URL inputs from reaching vulnerable appliances. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and recovery from similar denial of service events that may affect other security infrastructure components.