CVE-2014-4980 in Nessus
Summary
by MITRE
The /server/properties resource in Tenable Web UI before 2.3.5 for Nessus 5.2.3 through 5.2.7 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the token parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4980 resides within the Tenable Web UI component of Nessus vulnerability scanning software, specifically affecting versions 5.2.3 through 5.2.7 prior to the 2.3.5 release. This issue manifests through the /server/properties resource which exposes sensitive information when processing requests containing a token parameter. The flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that could potentially compromise the security posture of organizations relying on Nessus for vulnerability assessment and management. The vulnerability affects the web interface component that serves as the primary user interaction point for configuring and managing Nessus scanning operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the server properties endpoint. When a remote attacker submits a request containing a token parameter to the /server/properties resource, the system fails to properly authenticate or authorize the request before returning sensitive configuration data. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input sanitization practices. The token parameter likely serves as an authentication mechanism or session identifier, but the system does not properly validate its legitimacy before exposing internal server properties. This flaw aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper output sanitization leading to information exposure, and CWE-352, which addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities that can result in unauthorized information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed server properties could reveal critical system configuration details including version information, installed plugins, network settings, and potentially authentication mechanisms. Attackers could leverage this information to craft more sophisticated attacks against the Nessus server, potentially leading to privilege escalation or further exploitation of the underlying system. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Nessus for security assessments, as the exposure of server properties could provide attackers with insights into the security infrastructure and potentially reveal other system weaknesses. This represents a significant risk to organizations where Nessus is used for internal network scanning and security monitoring, as the exposed information could be used to bypass security controls or target specific system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4980 should focus on immediate patching of affected Nessus versions to 2.3.5 or later, which would address the improper access control and input validation flaws. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to Nessus web interfaces, particularly in production environments where unauthorized access could be catastrophic. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter requests to sensitive endpoints, enforcing strict access controls on the Nessus server, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1083 for file and directory discovery, which attackers could use to gather system information after initial access. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns to sensitive system endpoints, as this vulnerability could serve as an initial foothold for more extensive attacks against the network infrastructure.