CVE-2013-2263 in Access Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Citrix Access Gateway Standard Edition 5.0.x before 5.0.4.223524 allows remote attackers to access network resources via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2263 represents a critical security flaw in Citrix Access Gateway Standard Edition version 5.0.x prior to 5.0.4.223524. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability, indicating that the specific technical details of the attack vector were not fully disclosed in the initial advisory. The Citrix Access Gateway serves as a crucial component in enterprise network security, providing secure remote access to internal resources through SSL VPN capabilities. As a standardized security solution widely deployed across organizations, the vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of affected implementations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to network resources without requiring authentication or legitimate credentials. This type of vulnerability typically represents a privilege escalation or access control failure that allows attackers to bypass the normal security mechanisms designed to protect network boundaries. The unspecified nature of the attack vector suggests that multiple potential pathways could be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security assessment perspective. Such vulnerabilities often stem from improper input validation, insufficient access controls, or flawed authentication mechanisms within the application layer.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire network infrastructures. Organizations relying on Citrix Access Gateway for remote access control face significant risks including data exfiltration, lateral movement within their networks, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the security appliance, undermining the trust model that organizations place in their VPN solutions. This represents a serious breach of the principle of least privilege, where unauthorized parties can access resources they should not be permitted to reach. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a widely deployed enterprise security solution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching to version 5.0.4.223524 or later, as provided by Citrix. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their Citrix deployments and review access control policies. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions and intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how vulnerabilities in core infrastructure components can have widespread organizational impact.