CVE-2011-0549 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in forget.php in the management GUI in Symantec Web Gateway 4.5.x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0549 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Symantec Web Gateway 4.5.x management graphical user interface. This security weakness specifically affects the forget.php script which handles user account recovery functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly the username parameter that is processed without proper security measures to prevent malicious SQL code injection. The affected Symantec Web Gateway version exposes a significant attack surface through its management console, which is typically accessible over network connections and contains administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the username parameter is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without appropriate parameterization or input filtering mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious username values that contain SQL payload sequences designed to manipulate the underlying database query execution. This allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database backend, potentially gaining access to sensitive information, modifying database records, or even escalating privileges within the system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication to the management interface, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the management console is exposed to untrusted networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for lateral movement and persistent access within the network infrastructure. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract user credentials, configuration data, and other sensitive information stored within the Symantec Web Gateway database. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and it maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations utilizing this version of Symantec Web Gateway face significant risk of unauthorized access to their web filtering policies, user access logs, and administrative configurations that could be leveraged for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0549 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the affected application components. Security administrators must ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized and validated before being processed in database operations, with particular attention to the management GUI components. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of Symantec Web Gateway 4.5.x that addresses this specific vulnerability through proper input handling mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the management interface, employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments of their web gateway configurations to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, comprehensive logging and monitoring should be enabled to detect anomalous database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.