CVE-2014-7285 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
The management console on the Symantec Web Gateway (SWG) appliance before 5.2.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary OS commands by injecting command strings into unspecified PHP scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7285 affects Symantec Web Gateway appliances running software versions prior to 5.2.2, specifically targeting the management console component that operates through PHP scripts. This represents a critical command injection flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the affected appliance. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the management console's PHP processing components, allowing maliciously crafted inputs to be interpreted and executed as system commands rather than being properly sanitized or escaped. The flaw exists in the way the appliance handles user-supplied data within PHP scripts that interface with the underlying operating system, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which describes command injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability must first authenticate to the management console, which reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely since the authenticated user context provides sufficient privileges to leverage the command injection. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially allow full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the appliance's core management functionality and represents a significant weakness in the appliance's security architecture, particularly in environments where the management console is accessible over the network.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Symantec Web Gateway appliances for web filtering and security enforcement. The ability to execute arbitrary OS commands provides attackers with complete control over the appliance's operating system, potentially enabling them to modify security policies, disable protective measures, or establish backdoors within the network. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers could potentially exploit it from outside the network perimeter if the management console is exposed, although the authentication requirement limits the attack vector to those with valid credentials. Organizations using affected SWG appliances face potential data breaches, service disruption, and regulatory compliance violations if this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7285 primarily involve immediate deployment of Symantec's official security patches and updates to version 5.2.2 or later, which address the command injection vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit access to the management console to only authorized personnel and trusted network segments. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that management console access is restricted to users who require such privileges for their operational duties. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging of management console activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security appliances and infrastructure components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1078 for valid accounts to maintain access and persistence within compromised systems.