CVE-2015-5692 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
admin_messages.php in the management console on Symantec Web Gateway (SWG) appliances with software before 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code by uploading a file with a safe extension and content type, and then leveraging an improper Sudo configuration to make this a setuid-root file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5692 affects Symantec Web Gateway appliances and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that combines multiple security weaknesses to enable remote code execution. This vulnerability exists within the admin_messages.php management console component of SWG appliances running software versions prior to 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign file upload functionality can be leveraged to achieve system-level compromise when combined with improper system configuration.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves a sophisticated multi-stage attack that begins with a file upload vulnerability in the management console. Attackers can upload files with seemingly safe extensions and content types that bypass initial validation checks, allowing malicious payloads to be stored on the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages improper sudo configuration that transforms the uploaded file into a setuid-root executable, effectively granting the attacker root privileges on the target system. This combination of file upload bypass and privilege escalation creates a powerful attack scenario that can be executed remotely by authenticated users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe threat to organizations relying on Symantec Web Gateway appliances for network security. The ability to execute arbitrary code with root privileges means that attackers can completely compromise the appliance, potentially gaining access to all network traffic data, modifying security policies, or using the compromised appliance as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The remote nature of the attack eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed or cloud-based deployments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-276 (Incorrect Permissions) as it combines path traversal issues with improper privilege management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1548.001 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism) where the attacker leverages the setuid binary to execute commands with elevated privileges. The attack chain demonstrates the principle of least privilege violation, where the system configuration allows arbitrary file execution with root privileges, violating fundamental security principles.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Symantec Web Gateway software version 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277 or later, which contains patches addressing both the file upload validation issues and the sudo configuration problems. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to management consoles, and access controls should be strictly enforced using strong authentication mechanisms. Regular security audits should verify that sudo configurations properly restrict privilege escalation opportunities, and file upload validation should be strengthened to prevent similar attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar configuration weaknesses across the network infrastructure.