CVE-2014-5024 in SonicWALL
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sgms/panelManager in Dell SonicWALL GMS, Analyzer, and UMA before 7.2 SP1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the node_id parameter.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2022
The CVE-2014-5024 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Dell SonicWALL Global Management System GMS, Analyzer, and Unified Management Appliance software versions prior to 7.2 Service Pack 1. This vulnerability resides within the sgms/panelManager component and specifically targets the node_id parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious input injection. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising the security of the entire management infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS weakness that can be exploited through web-based attack vectors without requiring any special privileges or authentication credentials from the attacker's perspective.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the node_id parameter handling mechanism. When the application processes user-supplied node_id values without proper sanitization, it fails to adequately escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that get executed in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's data validation and sanitization processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive management functions within the SonicWALL environment. An attacker could potentially leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify configuration settings, or establish persistent access to the management interface. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these management systems typically control critical network security policies and configurations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from outside the network perimeter, making it a significant threat to organizations that rely on SonicWALL appliances for their security infrastructure. This flaw directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically JavaScript, and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers could use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised management interfaces.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including applying the available patches and updates from Dell, specifically upgrading to SonicWALL GMS, Analyzer, and UMA version 7.2 SP1 or later. Network segmentation and monitoring of management interfaces should be enhanced to detect suspicious activity patterns. Input validation controls should be strengthened at the application level, with proper encoding and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters including node_id. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using security frameworks like OWASP ESAPI for input validation can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation controls to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in network management systems.