CVE-2014-4693 in Snort package
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Snort package before 3.0.13 for pfSense through 2.1.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the eng parameter to snort_import_aliases.php or (2) unspecified variables to snort_select_alias.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2018
The CVE-2014-4693 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Snort package version 3.0.12 and earlier installations within pfSense firewall systems through version 2.1.4. This vulnerability resides in the web interface components of the Snort intrusion detection system integration, specifically targeting two distinct PHP scripts that handle alias management and selection operations. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising the entire network monitoring infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the affected PHP scripts. In the first instance, the eng parameter in snort_import_aliases.php fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses, while the second vulnerability affects unspecified variables within snort_select_alias.php that similarly lack adequate protection against malicious input injection. These flaws align with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation. The vulnerability operates through the exploitation of user-controllable input fields that are directly reflected in HTTP responses without proper HTML encoding or context-appropriate sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4693 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands within the compromised browser environment. Given that pfSense systems often serve as critical network security infrastructure components, successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over the network monitoring capabilities, potentially allowing them to bypass security policies, monitor traffic, or manipulate intrusion detection rules. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where pfSense appliances are commonly deployed.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to pfSense version 2.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches for this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting these specific endpoints. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering techniques, as attackers can exploit XSS flaws to capture user sessions and credentials. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their web applications to identify similar input validation weaknesses and implement proper output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their security infrastructure.