CVE-2015-2854 in SSL Visibility Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The WebUI component in Blue Coat SSL Visibility Appliance SV800, SV1800, SV2800, and SV3800 3.6.x through 3.8.x before 3.8.4 does not send a restrictive X-Frame-Options HTTP header, which allows remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks via vectors involving an IFRAME element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2854 affects the WebUI component of Blue Coat SSL Visibility Appliance models SV800, SV1800, SV2800, and SV3800 running software versions 3.6.x through 3.8.x before 3.8.4. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the appliance's web interface implementation that exposes organizations to sophisticated clickjacking attacks. The vulnerability specifically resides in the absence of proper X-Frame-Options HTTP header configuration within the web user interface responses, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to manipulate user interactions and potentially compromise sensitive data or system operations.
The technical flaw stems from the WebUI component's failure to implement the X-Frame-Options HTTP header, which serves as a crucial security mechanism to prevent a web page from being rendered within an iframe element. This header can be set to either DENY, which prevents the page from being displayed in any frame, or SAMEORIGIN, which allows the page to be displayed only within frames on the same origin. Without this protection, attackers can embed the appliance's web interface within malicious web pages, creating deceptive user experiences where legitimate interface elements appear to be part of a trusted application while actually being controlled by an attacker. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-1021, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution through web-based attacks that manipulate user interface elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations utilizing Blue Coat SSL Visibility appliances, as it enables attackers to conduct sophisticated clickjacking attacks that can lead to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or system compromise. An attacker could craft malicious web pages that overlay the appliance's web interface with deceptive elements, potentially tricking administrators into performing unintended actions such as changing configurations, accessing sensitive reports, or executing administrative commands. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the management interface of a security appliance, potentially allowing attackers to gain administrative control over the device and subsequently compromise the entire network monitoring infrastructure. Organizations relying on these appliances for SSL visibility and traffic analysis could face severe consequences including complete loss of monitoring capabilities, unauthorized access to decrypted traffic, and potential data breaches through the compromised management interface.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2015-2854 requires immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patch version 3.8.4 or later, which addresses the missing X-Frame-Options header implementation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to verify that all affected appliances are properly updated and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within their network infrastructure. Network administrators should implement additional security controls such as Content Security Policy headers as an additional layer of protection, though this should not replace the primary fix. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper web application security practices, particularly in management interfaces of critical network infrastructure devices, and serves as a reminder that even security appliances can contain fundamental security flaws that require regular patch management and security auditing processes. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious iframe embedding attempts as part of their overall defensive strategy against such attacks.