CVE-2012-2212 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** McAfee Web Gateway 7.0 allows remote attackers to bypass the access configuration for the CONNECT method by providing an arbitrary allowed hostname in the Host HTTP header. NOTE: this issue might not be reproducible, because the researcher did not provide configuration details for the vulnerable system, and the observed behavior might be consistent with a configuration that was (perhaps inadvertently) designed to allow access based on Host HTTP headers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2212 affects McAfee Web Gateway version 7.0 and represents a potential bypass of access control mechanisms specifically targeting the CONNECT method in HTTP protocol handling. This issue falls under the category of access control bypass vulnerabilities, which are particularly concerning as they can allow unauthorized users to circumvent security restrictions that are meant to protect network resources and data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and could potentially be exploited through techniques aligned with ATT&CK tactic TA0011 - Command and Control, where adversaries might establish unauthorized communication channels.
The technical flaw manifests when the McAfee Web Gateway processes HTTP CONNECT requests with the Host header containing an arbitrary hostname that is allowed in the configuration. This behavior suggests that the gateway's access control logic may not properly validate or sanitize the Host header value during CONNECT method processing, allowing attackers to potentially access resources that should be restricted based on the gateway's access configuration. The vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP CONNECT method which is commonly used for establishing proxy connections and tunneling protocols, making it particularly dangerous in web gateway environments where such connections are frequently processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability could be significant for organizations relying on McAfee Web Gateway for web filtering and security enforcement. Attackers could potentially bypass configured access restrictions, gain access to restricted websites or services, or establish unauthorized connections through the gateway. This could lead to data exfiltration, unauthorized access to internal resources, or the establishment of command and control channels. The configuration-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that organizations with specific gateway setups might be more susceptible to exploitation, though the exact conditions for exploitation remain unclear due to insufficient information provided by the researcher.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization for HTTP headers, particularly in proxy and gateway configurations. Organizations should review their McAfee Web Gateway configurations to ensure that access controls are properly enforced regardless of the HTTP method being used. The recommended approach includes implementing strict validation of Host headers and ensuring that access control decisions are made based on comprehensive criteria rather than potentially manipulated header values. Additionally, organizations should consider updating to newer versions of McAfee Web Gateway where this issue has been addressed, and implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous proxy traffic patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough testing of their proxy configurations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their network security infrastructure.