CVE-2015-0624 in Web Security Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The web framework in Cisco AsyncOS on Email Security Appliance (ESA), Content Security Management Appliance (SMA), and Web Security Appliance (WSA) devices allows remote attackers to trigger redirects via a crafted HTTP header, aka Bug IDs CSCur44412, CSCur44415, CSCur89630, CSCur89636, CSCur89633, and CSCur89639.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0624 represents a significant security flaw within Cisco's AsyncOS web framework that affects multiple enterprise security appliances including Email Security Appliance ESA, Content Security Management Appliance SMA, and Web Security Appliance WSA. This issue manifests as a remote code execution vulnerability through crafted HTTP header manipulation, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's redirect behavior without requiring authentication or prior access to the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the web application layer of these security appliances, which serve as critical components in enterprise network security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the HTTP header processing mechanism of the AsyncOS framework. When the web application receives HTTP requests containing specially crafted headers, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the header content before processing redirect operations. This allows attackers to inject malicious redirect parameters that can be interpreted by the application's redirect functionality, potentially leading to open redirect scenarios where users are unknowingly directed to malicious websites. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard HTTP traffic without requiring specialized tools or privileged access. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-601 as an Open Redirect vulnerability, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security where applications redirect users to arbitrary URLs without proper validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0624 extends beyond simple redirect manipulation and presents a substantial risk to enterprise security infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform phishing attacks by redirecting users to malicious domains that appear legitimate, potentially compromising user credentials or system access. The vulnerability affects Cisco's core security appliances that are deployed in enterprise environments, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with opportunities to bypass security controls or redirect traffic to malicious endpoints. Organizations relying on these appliances for email filtering, web security, or content management could face significant security implications, as the compromised appliances could become vectors for broader network attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple appliance types increases the potential attack surface and the complexity of mitigation efforts across different security domains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0624 should focus on immediate patch application and network-level protections. Cisco released security advisories and patches addressing this vulnerability, which should be implemented immediately across all affected appliances to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of HTTP traffic patterns to detect anomalous redirect behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Redirect" highlights the potential for social engineering attacks leveraging this flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other security infrastructure components. Additionally, security teams should review and update their incident response procedures to include detection and remediation protocols specifically addressing open redirect vulnerabilities in security appliances.