CVE-2014-2849 in Web Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The Change Password dialog box (change_password) in Sophos Web Appliance before 3.8.2 allows remote authenticated users to change the admin user password via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2849 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the Sophos Web Appliance software ecosystem. This issue affects versions prior to 3.8.2 and specifically targets the change password functionality that operates through the change_password dialog box. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication checks within the web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the password change process without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a lack of proper access control validation within the change_password endpoint. When authenticated users submit requests to modify passwords, the system fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform such operations. This weakness allows attackers who have gained initial authenticated access to the appliance to craft specially formatted requests that bypass normal administrative password change restrictions. The vulnerability essentially enables privilege escalation through manipulation of the web application's authentication flow, where legitimate administrative functions become accessible to unauthorized users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on Sophos Web Appliances for network security. The ability to change administrator passwords remotely without proper authorization creates an immediate threat to system integrity and access control. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain persistent access to critical network security infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple password changes as it allows adversaries to establish backdoors, modify security policies, and disable protective measures within the appliance.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. This classification specifically addresses situations where programs fail to properly enforce access restrictions, allowing unauthorized users to perform privileged operations. Additionally, this weakness can be leveraged as part of broader attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as privilege escalation and credential access. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation and authentication checks can create persistent security weaknesses that enable attackers to maintain control over critical infrastructure components.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including prompt deployment of Sophos Web Appliance version 3.8.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication activities, particularly password change requests that occur outside normal administrative procedures. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that only authorized personnel can access administrative functions, while additional logging and audit capabilities should be implemented to track all password change activities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security components that might present comparable risks to organizational security posture.