CVE-2015-5693 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
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 commands via vectors related to "traffic capture."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5693 affects Symantec Web Gateway appliances and represents a critical command execution flaw within the management console. This issue specifically impacts appliances running software versions prior to 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on Symantec's web security solutions. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the traffic capture functionality of the management interface, allowing authenticated attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The flaw exists in the way the appliance processes user-supplied data during traffic capture operations, which directly relates to common security weaknesses categorized under CWE-74. This type of vulnerability falls into the category of command injection attacks where malicious input is interpreted and executed as system commands rather than being properly sanitized.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with full system control over affected Symantec Web Gateway appliances. Once authenticated, an attacker can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The management console serves as a critical administrative interface for configuring security policies, monitoring traffic, and managing network access controls, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to manipulate core security functions. The attack vector specifically targets the traffic capture feature which is commonly used for network monitoring and analysis, making the exploitation both plausible and potentially undetectable within normal network operations. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate system tools to execute malicious commands.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-5693 must prioritize immediate remediation through official Symantec security patches and updates. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Symantec Web Gateway software version 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms for traffic capture operations. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit administrative access to the management console, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Security monitoring should focus on unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the management interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights the critical need for regular security updates in enterprise security appliances. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The flaw underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches across all network security infrastructure components to prevent attackers from leveraging known vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized system access.