CVE-2011-5126 in SGOS
Summary
by MITRE
Blue Coat ProxySG 6.1 before SGOS 6.1.5.1 and 6.2 before SGOS 6.2.2.1 writes the secure heap to core images, which allows context-dependent attackers to obtain sensitive authentication information by leveraging read access to a downloaded core file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5126 affects Blue Coat ProxySG appliances running specific versions of the SGOS operating system. This issue represents a critical information disclosure flaw that arises from improper memory management practices within the system's core dump generation process. The vulnerability specifically impacts ProxySG 6.1 systems before SGOS version 6.1.5.1 and ProxySG 6.2 systems before SGOS version 6.2.2.1, making these configurations susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors with read access to core files.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the way the system handles memory allocation and core dump generation. During system operation, sensitive authentication data may be stored in the secure heap memory region, which is intended to protect confidential information from unauthorized access. However, when the system generates core images for debugging purposes, the secure heap contents are inadvertently written to these core files without proper sanitization. This occurs because the core dump mechanism does not properly distinguish between regular memory segments and secure memory containing authentication credentials, resulting in the exposure of sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Attackers with read access to downloaded core files can extract authentication information including usernames, passwords, and potentially session tokens that were stored in the secure heap. This exposure creates a significant risk for organizations relying on ProxySG appliances for network security, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the system. The vulnerability is context-dependent, meaning that exploitation requires both the ability to access core files and knowledge of the system's memory layout, but once achieved, it provides attackers with valuable credentials that can be used for further system compromise or unauthorized access to protected resources.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure," and represents a specific instance of information disclosure through improper data handling in memory management processes. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, "Data from Local System," as it enables adversaries to extract sensitive data from the target system through core dump analysis. Additionally, this issue demonstrates characteristics of T1552, "Unsecured Credentials," as it exposes authentication information that should remain protected within the system's secure memory regions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of SGOS 6.1.5.1 or 6.2.2.1, which contain proper memory sanitization mechanisms for core dump generation. System administrators should also implement access controls to limit read access to core files and consider disabling core dump generation on systems where sensitive data is processed. Regular security assessments should verify that core files are properly secured and that no sensitive information is exposed through system debugging mechanisms. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to core files, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential credential exposure scenarios. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices in security-critical systems and underscores the necessity of comprehensive testing for information disclosure vulnerabilities in system debugging mechanisms.