CVE-2012-4604 in Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
The TRITON management console in Websense Web Security before 7.6 Hotfix 24 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and read arbitrary reports via a crafted uid field, in conjunction with a crafted userRoles field, in a cookie, as demonstrated by a request to explorer_wse/favorites.exe.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4604 affects the TRITON management console within Websense Web Security software versions prior to 7.6 Hotfix 24. This represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive reporting functionality. The vulnerability specifically targets the cookie-based authentication mechanism used by the system, exploiting weaknesses in how the application processes user identification and role information. The attack vector involves manipulation of the uid field combined with a crafted userRoles field within HTTP cookies, allowing unauthorized access to the explorer_wse/favorites.exe endpoint which serves administrative reports.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages improper input validation and authentication mechanisms within the Websense TRITON console. When the system processes a maliciously crafted cookie containing a modified uid field and userRoles field, it fails to properly validate the authenticity of the user session. This flaw stems from inadequate sanitization of cookie parameters and insufficient verification of user privileges before granting access to restricted reporting functions. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system assumes that valid cookie data indicates legitimate access rights, without proper cryptographic verification or session validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized data access, as it provides attackers with the ability to read arbitrary reports that may contain sensitive information about network traffic, user activities, and security events. This capability can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where Websense Web Security is deployed for comprehensive network monitoring and threat detection. Attackers could potentially extract detailed information about user behavior, identify security gaps in network protection, and gather intelligence for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the security monitoring system, potentially enabling attackers to evade detection while accessing privileged information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available hotfix 24 for Websense Web Security version 7.6, as this represents the primary mitigation strategy. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring of cookie-based access patterns and user session management to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and corresponds to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access categories. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Websense deployments to ensure all systems are updated and monitor for anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.