CVE-2016-10258 in Advanced Secure Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in the Symantec Advanced Secure Gateway (ASG) and ProxySG management consoles. A malicious appliance administrator can upload arbitrary malicious files to the management console and trick another administrator user into downloading and executing malicious code.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The CVE-2016-10258 vulnerability represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw within Symantec's Advanced Secure Gateway (ASG) and ProxySG management consoles. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow authenticated administrators to upload files without proper restrictions on file types or content. The flaw exists in the web-based management interfaces of these security appliances, which are designed to provide centralized administration and configuration capabilities for enterprise network security policies. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage their administrative privileges to place malicious files on the target system, effectively bypassing the intended security controls of the appliances.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic insecure file upload pattern that aligns with CWE-434, which describes the weakness of allowing files to be uploaded to a web application without proper validation. The vulnerability specifically affects the management console components of Symantec's security appliances, where administrative users can upload configuration files, certificates, or other resources. However, due to inadequate input sanitization and file type checking, attackers can upload executable files, scripts, or malicious binaries that can be executed by other administrators who visit the management interface. The flaw essentially creates a privilege escalation vector where a malicious administrator can establish persistence and execute arbitrary code on the appliance's management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables sophisticated attack scenarios that can compromise entire enterprise security infrastructures. When an administrator visits the management console to perform routine tasks, they may inadvertently trigger the execution of malicious code that was uploaded by a compromised administrator. This creates a dangerous social engineering component where the attack relies on the trust relationship between administrators. The vulnerability affects the core management capabilities of these appliances, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the security appliance configuration, access to network traffic monitoring capabilities, and ability to modify security policies. This represents a significant risk to enterprise security posture as it undermines the fundamental trust model of administrative access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10258 should focus on immediate patching of affected Symantec appliances to address the underlying file upload validation issues. Organizations must ensure that all management consoles are updated to versions that implement proper file type validation, content inspection, and upload restrictions. The implementation of additional security controls such as network segmentation, privileged access management, and monitoring of administrative activities can help detect unauthorized file uploads. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for valid accounts and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive monitoring of administrative access patterns and suspicious file operations. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege for administrative accounts, regularly audit administrative activities, and establish strict protocols for managing administrative access to security appliances. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing management interfaces and validating all user inputs to prevent unauthorized code execution in enterprise security infrastructure.