CVE-2014-9429 in Smoothwall
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Smoothwall Express 3.1 and 3.0 SP3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) PROFILENAME parameter in a Save action to httpd/cgi-bin/pppsetup.cgi or (2) COMMENT parameter in an Add action to httpd/cgi-bin/ddns.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2014-9429 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Smoothwall Express versions 3.0 SP3 and 3.1, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and output sanitization within web-based administrative interfaces. This issue stems from insufficient parameter validation in two distinct CGI scripts that handle user input for network configuration management. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a classic cross-site scripting flaw, where malicious input is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web responses, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users.
The technical exploitation occurs through two specific attack vectors within the Smoothwall administrative interface. The first vector involves the PROFILENAME parameter within the Save action of the httpd/cgi-bin/pppsetup.cgi script, while the second vector targets the COMMENT parameter in the Add action of httpd/cgi-bin/ddns.cgi. Both vulnerabilities arise from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable scripts, get executed in the browsers of legitimate users who visit affected pages or perform actions within the administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive network configuration data and administrative functions. Since Smoothwall Express serves as a network security gateway, successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify network settings, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects administrative interfaces that typically require authentication, meaning that an attacker would need to first gain valid credentials, though the XSS could be leveraged to escalate privileges or bypass authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically web shell execution, and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9429 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's web interface. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before processing them in CGI scripts, particularly for fields used in administrative functions. Organizations should implement proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content generation, ensuring that special characters are properly encoded to prevent script execution. Additionally, the implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure that the Smoothwall Express appliance operates on the latest secure version, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative interface access can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user access controls should be strictly enforced to minimize the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive network configuration data.