CVE-2013-7417 in IPCop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in cgi-bin/ipinfo.cgi in IPCop (aka IPCop Firewall) before 2.1.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the QUERY_STRING. NOTE: this can be used to bypass the cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection mechanism by setting the Referer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2022
The CVE-2013-7417 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in IPCop Firewall's ipinfo.cgi script that affects versions prior to 2.1.3. This vulnerability exists within the cgi-bin directory of the IPCop system, which is a popular open-source firewall distribution designed for small networks and home users. The flaw specifically resides in how the application processes the QUERY_STRING parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers.
This XSS vulnerability operates through the manipulation of the HTTP query string parameters that are passed to the ipinfo.cgi script. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing specially formatted script code within the QUERY_STRING, the vulnerable application fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before rendering it in the web interface. The flaw allows arbitrary web script or HTML injection, enabling attackers to execute malicious code in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS exploitation, as it specifically undermines the firewall's own CSRF protection mechanisms. By leveraging the XSS capability, attackers can manipulate the Referer header to bypass CSRF controls that are typically designed to prevent unauthorized actions from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. This creates a dangerous scenario where an attacker can not only inject malicious scripts but also potentially perform administrative actions within the firewall's interface without proper authentication.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw demonstrates how improper input validation and output encoding can create cascading security issues, particularly when multiple security mechanisms are present but one is compromised. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for social engineering techniques that can be employed through web-based attacks.
The implications for network security are significant, as IPCop firewalls are commonly deployed in home and small office environments where users may not have advanced security awareness. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to establish persistent access through malicious scripts that remain active in users' browsers, potentially capturing credentials or modifying firewall configurations. Organizations using IPCop systems should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as the combination of XSS and CSRF bypass capabilities creates a particularly dangerous attack vector for network compromise.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of IPCop version 2.1.3 or later, which contains proper input validation and output encoding fixes. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious query string patterns and consider web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Regular security audits of web-based management interfaces are essential to identify similar input validation issues that could create similar exploitation pathways within other network security appliances.