CVE-2014-8951 in Security Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Check Point Security Gateway R75, R76, R77, and R77.10, when UserCheck is enabled and the (1) Application Control, (2) URL Filtering, (3) DLP, (4) Threat Emulation, (5) Anti-Bot, or (6) Anti-Virus blade is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (fwk0 process crash, core dump, and restart) via a redirect to the UserCheck page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8951 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Check Point Security Gateway appliances running versions R75 through R77.10. This flaw specifically manifests when UserCheck functionality is enabled alongside several key security blades including Application Control, URL Filtering, DLP, Threat Emulation, Anti-Bot, or Anti-Virus components. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages web redirect mechanisms to target the fwk0 process, which serves as a fundamental component in the gateway's operational framework. The attack exploits the interaction between UserCheck's authentication mechanisms and the security blade processing pipelines, creating a condition where maliciously crafted redirects can trigger system instability. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of security infrastructure, potentially leaving networks exposed during the service disruption period.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user authentication redirects within the UserCheck module when integrated with various security processing blades. When a remote attacker crafts a specific redirect URL that leads to the UserCheck page, the system's fwk0 process fails to properly validate or handle the incoming request sequence. This processing failure results in a critical system crash that generates core dump files and subsequently triggers an automatic system restart. The underlying flaw resides in the insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the authentication flow, particularly when multiple security blades are active simultaneously. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-116, dealing with improper encoding or formatting of structured data. The specific exploitation technique aligns with attack patterns found in the ATT&CK framework under T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting infrastructure components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass significant security implications for organizations relying on Check Point gateways. During the system restart cycle, network traffic may experience complete interruption while the appliance reinitializes its security policies and processes. This disruption can occur without any visible warning signs to network administrators, potentially creating windows of exposure where malicious actors could exploit the temporary service unavailability. The vulnerability affects organizations with extensive security infrastructure deployments where UserCheck is commonly enabled for user authentication and access control purposes. The cascading effect of the fwk0 process crash can potentially impact other security services running on the same appliance, creating broader system instability. Network availability is compromised not just through direct denial of service but also through the automatic restart mechanism that can occur without administrator intervention, potentially disrupting legitimate business operations during critical periods.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling UserCheck functionality when not required, applying the latest security patches provided by Check Point, and implementing network segmentation to limit the attack surface. Network administrators should monitor for unusual redirect patterns and implement intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The recommended approach involves configuring access control lists to restrict access to UserCheck pages from untrusted networks and implementing logging mechanisms to track authentication attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying redundant security appliances to maintain network availability during potential exploitation events. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in security gateway software, emphasizing the need for comprehensive testing of integrated security components. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their security infrastructure. Additionally, implementing proper incident response procedures that account for automated system restarts and core dump generation will help minimize operational impact during exploitation events.