CVE-2014-9616 in Netsweeper
Summary
by MITRE
Netsweeper before 3.1.10, 4.0.x before 4.0.9, and 4.1.x before 4.1.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by making a request that redirects to the deny page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9616 affects Netsweeper web filtering software across multiple version ranges including 3.1.10 and earlier, 4.0.x versions before 4.0.9, and 4.1.x versions before 4.1.2. This security flaw represents a sensitive data exposure issue that could potentially allow unauthorized access to information that should remain protected. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes requests that result in redirection to deny pages, creating an unintended information disclosure channel that attackers can exploit to gain access to sensitive data.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper handling of HTTP redirect responses within the Netsweeper application framework. When a user makes a request that is blocked by the filtering system, the application redirects them to a deny page that contains information about the blocked content or system configuration. However, the implementation fails to properly sanitize or restrict access to this deny page content, allowing remote attackers to craft specific requests that trigger these redirect responses and subsequently extract sensitive information from the deny page content. This behavior stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the application's request handling and redirect processing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9616 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the sensitive data potentially exposed could include system configuration details, user access patterns, or other information that could aid in further attacks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the network infrastructure, identify potentially vulnerable systems, or discover internal network structures that could be used in subsequent phases of an attack. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Netsweeper for web content filtering and access control, potentially compromising their security posture and exposing them to various attack vectors that could lead to more serious security incidents.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the patched versions of Netsweeper software, specifically versions 3.1.10, 4.0.9, and 4.1.2 or later. Additionally, network administrators should review and restrict access to deny pages through firewall rules and access control lists, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access this information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to reconnaissance and credential access. Regular security assessments and monitoring of web application behavior should be implemented to detect similar issues in other applications within the organization's infrastructure.