CVE-2014-4976 in SonicWall Scrutinizer
Summary
by MITRE
Dell SonicWall Scrutinizer 11.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to change user passwords via the user ID in the savePrefs parameter in a change password request to cgi-bin/admin.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4976 affects Dell SonicWall Scrutinizer version 11.0.1, a network traffic analysis and monitoring platform that provides detailed insights into network activity and security events. This issue represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that allows remote authenticated attackers to manipulate user account credentials through a flaw in the web application's parameter handling mechanism. The vulnerability specifically resides within the administrative interface of the Scrutinizer application, where the savePrefs parameter in the cgi-bin/admin.cgi endpoint fails to properly validate user identifiers during password change operations.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input validation and authorization checks within the web application's password modification functionality. When authenticated users submit password change requests through the administrative interface, the system accepts the user ID parameter without sufficient verification of the requesting user's privileges or the target user's identity. This weakness creates a path for privilege escalation and unauthorized account manipulation, as an authenticated user can potentially modify passwords for other accounts within the system. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, specifically relating to insufficient authorization checks during administrative operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential compromise, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative accounts and potentially escalate their privileges within the network monitoring environment. Network administrators who rely on Scrutinizer for critical traffic analysis and security monitoring face significant risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched, as attackers could modify user permissions, create backdoor accounts, or completely compromise the integrity of the monitoring system. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or additional reconnaissance. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables unauthorized access through compromised credentials and provides a pathway for further network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4976 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Dell SonicWall Scrutinizer version 11.0.1 to address the underlying input validation flaw in the administrative interface. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the Scrutinizer administration interface, restrict administrative access through firewall rules, and enforce strong authentication measures including multi-factor authentication. Additionally, regular security audits of web application interfaces should be conducted to identify similar parameter handling vulnerabilities, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that administrative privileges are properly restricted and validated. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation and authorization checks in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten categories related to authentication and access control failures.