CVE-2014-6413 in XTM
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in WatchGuard XTM 11.8.3 via the poll_name parameter in the firewall/policy script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6413 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within WatchGuard XTM 11.8.3 firewall software, specifically targeting the firewall/policy script component. This vulnerability manifests through the poll_name parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web interface, creating a persistent security risk for organizations relying on this firewall solution.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the WatchGuard XTM software. When the poll_name parameter is processed by the firewall/policy script, the application does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers who access the affected web interface. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where insufficient validation of user-supplied data leads to code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the affected system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to the firewall management interface, modify security policies, or redirect users to malicious websites. The persistent nature of XSS attacks means that compromised users may continue to be affected until the vulnerability is patched or the malicious script is removed from the system. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations using WatchGuard XTM appliances, which are commonly deployed in enterprise environments for network security management.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by WatchGuard, implementing proper input validation mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious requests. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization and output encoding practices in web application development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content delivery. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unusual parameter usage patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all administrative interfaces are properly secured through multi-factor authentication and least privilege access controls.