CVE-2014-2850 in Web Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The network interface configuration page (netinterface) in Sophos Web Appliance before 3.8.2 allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the address parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2850 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Sophos Web Appliance network interface configuration component. This issue affects versions prior to 3.8.2 and specifically targets the netinterface page that handles network configuration parameters for remote administrators. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's parameter handling logic, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary shell commands on the underlying system. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates within the administrative interface, which typically grants elevated privileges and system-level access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the address parameter within the network interface configuration page. When remote administrators interact with the netinterface page, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing shell metacharacters to be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. This command injection vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web application process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, and follows the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configurations, establish persistent backdoors, or deploy additional malicious payloads. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that maintain web-based administrative interfaces. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the appliance and could result in unauthorized network access, data breaches, and disruption of network services.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Sophos Web Appliance version 3.8.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit administrative access to only trusted sources. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar injection attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications. The incident highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for web application security.