CVE-2015-7781 in Firewall Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer before 8.0 does not restrict access permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7781 affects ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer versions prior to 8.0, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of network infrastructure monitoring systems. This issue stems from insufficient implementation of access permission controls within the application's authentication framework, creating potential pathways for unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges and access sensitive network monitoring data. The vulnerability exists at the application level where user authentication and authorization mechanisms fail to properly validate and restrict user access to system resources.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input validation and access control enforcement within the Firewall Analyzer application's user management system. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass authentication mechanisms and assume administrative roles without proper authorization. This occurs due to inadequate validation of user credentials and insufficient session management controls that should prevent unauthorized access to privileged functions. The vulnerability falls under the category of weak access control as defined by CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control implementations in software applications. The flaw allows for privilege escalation scenarios where unauthenticated or low-privileged users can potentially access restricted features and data within the firewall monitoring environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of network monitoring data. Organizations using affected versions of Firewall Analyzer face significant risks including unauthorized access to firewall logs, configuration data, and network traffic analysis information. This exposure can lead to comprehensive network reconnaissance activities where attackers can map network topologies, identify security gaps, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions, which violates fundamental security concepts outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7781 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for Firewall Analyzer versions prior to 8.0. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including network segmentation to isolate the Firewall Analyzer system, enhanced monitoring of access logs for suspicious activities, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should involve comprehensive access control reviews and implementation of multi-factor authentication where possible. Security teams should also establish baseline configurations that enforce strict access controls and regularly audit user permissions to ensure proper segregation of duties. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and implementing proper access control mechanisms as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those targeting application-level access control weaknesses. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing access control breaches in security monitoring tools.