CVE-2014-4347 in Netscaler Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Citrix NetScaler Application Delivery Controller (ADC) and NetScaler Gateway (formerly Access Gateway Enterprise Edition) before 9.3-62.4 and 10.x before 10.1-126.12 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via vectors related to a cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4347 affects Citrix NetScaler Application Delivery Controller and NetScaler Gateway appliances, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that could compromise sensitive data within enterprise network environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the cookie handling mechanisms within these security appliances, which are widely deployed for load balancing, application delivery, and secure remote access services. The affected versions include NetScaler ADC before 9.3-62.4 and 10.x before 10.1-126.12, as well as NetScaler Gateway before corresponding patch levels, indicating this flaw impacted a substantial portion of Citrix's deployed security infrastructure during the affected period.
The technical flaw stems from improper cookie validation and processing within the Citrix NetScaler appliances, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information through crafted cookie values or by manipulating existing cookie data. This vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which categorizes weaknesses related to information exposure, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation where the appliance fails to properly sanitize or validate cookie contents before processing them. The flaw enables attackers to potentially access session information, authentication tokens, or other sensitive data that should remain protected within the appliance's secure processing environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could provide attackers with the foundation for more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of the compromised appliance. When attackers can obtain sensitive cookie information, they may gain unauthorized access to user sessions, bypass authentication mechanisms, or extract confidential data that should be protected by the appliance's security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Citrix appliances for remote access and application delivery, as the compromised cookies could lead to unauthorized access to corporate resources, user credentials, or sensitive business data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Citrix security patches and updates, reviewing cookie handling configurations, and monitoring for suspicious network activity. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation, enhanced monitoring of cookie-related traffic, and regular security assessments of their NetScaler deployments to prevent exploitation. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential information disclosure vulnerabilities within their network infrastructure and establish proper incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.