CVE-2014-6189 in Security Network Protection
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Security Network Protection 3100, 4100, 5100, and 7100 devices with firmware 5.2 before 5.2.0.0-ISS-XGS-All-Models-Hotfix-FP0008 and 5.3 before 5.3.0.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6189 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security Network Protection appliances, specifically affecting models 3100, 4100, 5100, and 7100. This weakness resides in the web-based management interfaces of these network security devices, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the security posture of protected environments. The vulnerability impacts firmware versions prior to the specified hotfix releases, indicating that IBM had identified and patched this issue in their security updates. The affected devices operate as network security appliances that typically function as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, or network access control devices, making them critical infrastructure components in enterprise security architectures. These appliances often serve as gateways between internal networks and external threats, making their compromise particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network information or manipulate security policies.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web management interfaces of the affected IBM Security appliances. Attackers can leverage this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulating form inputs, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data fields within the device management web interface. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content, which can then execute in the context of other users who access the compromised management interface. This behavior aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly handled and reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding. The attack mechanism typically involves crafting malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable device's web interface, get executed in the browser of legitimate users who subsequently access the management console, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the security architecture of network defense systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data, manipulate security policies, or establish persistent access points within the network environment. The compromised management interfaces could provide attackers with visibility into network traffic patterns, security rule configurations, and other critical operational data that would normally be restricted to authorized administrators. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations that rely on these appliances for network segmentation and access control, as the compromise of the management interface could lead to complete loss of network security controls. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the devices, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for distributed network environments. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw could enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities, establish backdoors, or conduct more sophisticated attacks against the underlying network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures by applying the vendor-provided hotfixes and patches that address this specific XSS vulnerability in their IBM Security Network Protection appliances. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating firmware to versions 5.2.0.0-ISS-XGS-All-Models-Hotfix-FP0008 or 5.3.0.5 and later, ensuring that all affected devices within the network are properly updated and validated. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, reinforcing the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments of network infrastructure components. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual access patterns to management interfaces, suspicious user agent strings, or unexpected changes to device configurations that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing robust patch management processes for network security appliances, as these devices often serve as primary targets for advanced persistent threats due to their central role in network security.