CVE-2015-6548 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in a PHP script in the management console on Symantec Web Gateway (SWG) appliances with software before 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The CVE-2015-6548 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Symantec Web Gateway appliances that affects versions prior to 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277. This vulnerability resides within the management console's PHP script implementation and demonstrates a classic SQL injection weakness that can be exploited by authenticated attackers. The flaw specifically targets the database interaction layer of the web gateway appliance, which serves as a central management interface for configuring and monitoring network security policies. The vulnerability's impact is significant because it allows attackers who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector that undermines the appliance's security architecture and exposes sensitive configuration data and user information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the PHP script that handles management console requests. Attackers can craft malicious input parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple entry points within the management interface could be compromised, potentially including forms, API endpoints, or configuration parameter inputs. This SQL injection vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 classification for SQL injection, which is consistently ranked among the top ten web application security risks by OWASP. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses network-level security controls and targets the appliance's internal management functions. The attack surface expands significantly because the management console typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive system information that would otherwise be protected by proper access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6548 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized access to network security policies. Successful exploitation allows attackers to retrieve sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and potentially manipulate security policies that protect the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands means that attackers could modify database records, create new administrative accounts, or even escalate their privileges to system-level access. This represents a critical failure in the principle of least privilege, as authenticated users can bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized database access. The implications are particularly severe for enterprise environments where Symantec Web Gateway appliances serve as primary network security controls, as attackers could potentially disable security features or redirect traffic through maliciously configured rules. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as it leverages existing authentication mechanisms to gain deeper system access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to Symantec Web Gateway software versions 5.2.2 DB 5.0.0.1277 or later. The patch should include proper input validation and parameterized query implementations to prevent SQL injection attacks. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed to limit access to management interfaces to authorized personnel only, implementing principle of least privilege. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious SQL injection patterns, conducting regular security assessments of management interfaces, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized database access attempts. Security teams should also review and audit existing user accounts and permissions to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred before patch deployment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in web applications, as well as the critical need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning of management interfaces to identify similar weaknesses in other network security appliances.