CVE-2012-2976 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
The management console in Symantec Web Gateway 5.0.x before 5.0.3.18 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands via crafted input to application scripts, related to an "injection" issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2976 represents a critical command injection flaw within Symantec Web Gateway 5.0.x versions prior to 5.0.3.18 management console. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the application's backend scripts. The flaw exists in the management interface where administrators can interact with the system through web-based controls, making it accessible to remote attackers who can exploit this weakness without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the application scripts that handle administrative functions, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary shell commands on the underlying operating system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic command injection pattern where attacker-controlled input is concatenated into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. When legitimate administrative users interact with the management console, the application processes user inputs through backend scripts that do not adequately validate or escape special characters that could alter the intended command execution flow. This allows remote attackers to append malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the web application process, typically running with elevated permissions on the system. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 and CWE-88 within the CWE database, which categorize command injection flaws and improper input sanitization respectively, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, potentially leading to full system takeover, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms establishment. The management console typically operates with elevated permissions to perform administrative functions, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute commands that would normally be restricted. Organizations using affected Symantec Web Gateway versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability also affects the integrity and availability of the security appliance, as attackers can modify system configurations, install backdoors, or disrupt service availability through command execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2976 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to Symantec Web Gateway 5.0.3.18 or later versions that contain the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the management console to trusted administrative networks only, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, enabling strict input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, and conducting regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. System administrators should also monitor for unusual command execution patterns and implement comprehensive logging of management console activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization and proper validation in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions, and aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks for secure system development and operation.