CVE-2013-5017 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
SNMPConfig.php in the management console in Symantec Web Gateway (SWG) before 5.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5017 affects Symantec Web Gateway management console versions prior to 5.2.1, specifically within the SNMPConfig.php file. This represents a critical remote code execution flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system without authentication. The vulnerability exists within the web management interface of the Symantec Web Gateway appliance, which serves as a unified threat management solution for web traffic filtering and security enforcement. The affected component processes SNMP configuration parameters through the management console, creating an attack surface where malicious input can be transformed into system command execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the SNMPConfig.php script. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted requests to the management console that contain malicious payloads. The flaw likely involves improper handling of user-supplied parameters that are directly passed to system execution functions without adequate sanitization or validation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection vulnerabilities where attacker-controlled data is interpreted and executed as system commands. The attack vector operates through the web management interface, making it accessible over network connections and potentially exploitable from external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to gain full administrative control over the Symantec Web Gateway appliance, enabling them to modify security policies, access filtered web traffic, exfiltrate sensitive data, and potentially use the appliance as a pivot point for attacking internal network resources. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Symantec Web Gateway for web security enforcement, potentially compromising their entire web traffic filtering infrastructure. Given that the appliance typically sits at the network perimeter and controls access to web resources, this vulnerability could lead to complete network compromise and unauthorized data access. The attack requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the management console.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for Symantec Web Gateway version 5.2.1 and later, which address the command injection vulnerability in SNMPConfig.php. Network segmentation and access control should be implemented to restrict access to the management console to authorized administrative personnel only, typically through dedicated management networks or VPN connections. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary SNMP services, implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the appliance configuration. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and secure coding practices in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script injection. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious requests targeting the management interface, as well as establishing incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.