CVE-2014-9564 in EN6131
Summary
by MITRE
CRLF injection vulnerability in IBM Flex System EN6131 40Gb Ethernet and IB6131 40Gb Infiniband Switch firmware before 3.4.1110 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and conduct HTTP response splitting attacks and resulting web cache poisoning or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, or obtain sensitive information via multiple unspecified parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The CVE-2014-9564 vulnerability represents a critical CRLF injection flaw in IBM Flex System EN6131 40Gb Ethernet and IB6131 40Gb Infiniband Switch firmware versions prior to 3.4.1110. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the web interface of these network switching devices, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate HTTP responses through crafted input parameters. The flaw manifests as a failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into HTTP headers, which directly aligns with CWE-113, the weakness category for improper neutralization of CRLF characters in HTTP headers. The vulnerability exists at the application layer of the network infrastructure, specifically affecting the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and monitor these high-performance switching devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform HTTP response splitting attacks by injecting carriage return line feed sequences into HTTP headers. This technique allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTTP headers into the response stream, potentially causing web caches to store malicious content alongside legitimate responses. The impact extends beyond simple response manipulation, as the injected headers can be used to craft cross-site scripting attacks by injecting malicious script content into web pages served by the vulnerable switches. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate information disclosure attacks, where sensitive data from the switch's internal operations might be exposed through carefully crafted injection sequences. The unspecified nature of the affected parameters suggests that multiple input vectors within the web interface could be exploited, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9564 is particularly severe for enterprise network environments that rely on these switches for high-speed data transmission. Network administrators who use the web interface for routine management tasks become potential targets, as the vulnerability allows remote exploitation without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. The resulting web cache poisoning could affect multiple users within the network, as cached malicious responses would be delivered to subsequent requests. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the exploitation of web applications for initial access and privilege escalation. Organizations using these switches face risks of unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential compromise of the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability also poses risks to web application security, as compromised switches could serve as attack vectors for further infiltration of the enterprise network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9564 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 3.4.1110 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the CRLF injection vulnerability. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web interfaces, restricting access to trusted administrative workstations only. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious HTTP header sequences, enabling strict input validation on all web interface parameters, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems, where the absence of proper input sanitization can create severe security implications. Organizations should establish robust patch management procedures specifically for network infrastructure devices, ensuring that firmware updates are applied promptly to address known vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.