CVE-2015-6811 in Cyberoam CR500iNG-XP
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Sophos Cyberoam CR500iNG-XP firewall appliance with CyberoamOS 10.6.2 MR-1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username parameter to login.xml.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6811 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Sophos Cyberoam CR500iNG-XP firewall appliance running CyberoamOS version 10.6.2 MR-1 or earlier. This security weakness resides in the authentication handling mechanism of the appliance, specifically within the login.xml component that processes user credentials. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize input parameters, particularly the username field, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands directly into the authentication flow. This flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of the appliance's access control system and exposes the underlying database to unauthorized manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the username parameter in the login.xml interface, which serves as the primary entry point for authentication requests. When an attacker submits a maliciously crafted username containing SQL injection payloads, the vulnerable application fails to implement proper input validation or parameterized queries, enabling the injected SQL code to execute within the context of the database session. This allows threat actors to bypass authentication mechanisms, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions, extracting sensitive data from the database, or even modifying critical system configurations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on Sophos Cyberoam CR500iNG-XP appliances for network security. The remote execution capability means attackers can exploit this flaw from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the firewall appliance, providing attackers with a foothold for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple authentication bypass to include potential data exfiltration, configuration tampering, and disruption of network security services that the appliance provides. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers exploitation of remote services and T1078 which addresses valid accounts and legitimate credentials.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released to address the SQL injection flaw. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the vulnerable appliance to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough network scanning to identify all affected appliances, followed by coordinated patch deployment and post-remediation verification. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential SQL injection vulnerabilities within the organization's infrastructure and establish improved input validation practices across all web applications and database interfaces to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.