CVE-2016-3968 in Cyberoam UTM
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Sophos Cyberoam CR100iNG UTM appliance with firmware 10.6.3 MR-1 build 503, CR35iNG UTM appliance with firmware 10.6.2 MR-1 build 383, and CR35iNG UTM appliance with firmware 10.6.2 Build 378 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) ipFamily parameter to corporate/webpages/trafficdiscovery/LiveConnections.jsp; the (2) ipFamily, (3) applicationname, or (4) username parameter to corporate/webpages/trafficdiscovery/LiveConnectionDetail.jsp; or the (5) X-Forwarded-For HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3968 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Sophos Cyberoam UTM appliances, specifically targeting the CR100iNG and CR35iNG models with particular firmware versions. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interfaces of these network security devices, creating a significant attack surface that allows remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions. The affected components include multiple.jsp files within the traffic discovery module, specifically LiveConnections.jsp and LiveConnectionDetail.jsp, which process user-supplied input parameters without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through several distinct input vectors that bypass standard security controls within the appliance's web interface. Attackers can manipulate the ipFamily parameter in LiveConnections.jsp to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context. Additionally, the LiveConnectionDetail.jsp endpoint accepts multiple parameters including ipFamily, applicationname, and username, all of which can be exploited to deliver cross-site scripting payloads. The most concerning aspect involves the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header manipulation, which allows attackers to inject malicious content through the proxy header that may be processed by the appliance's web interface. This vector is particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged through various attack scenarios including man-in-the-middle situations or when the appliance is deployed behind proxy servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, and potentially gain full control over the affected UTM appliances. The exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the network security infrastructure, allowing attackers to view, modify, or delete network traffic monitoring data, access sensitive configuration information, and potentially redirect network traffic through malicious proxies. Given that these appliances serve as critical network security components, the successful exploitation could result in widespread network infiltration and data exfiltration across the entire protected network perimeter. The vulnerability affects both the web management interfaces and the underlying traffic analysis functionality, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on these appliances for network monitoring and security enforcement.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is classified under the OWASP Top Ten as one of the most critical web application security risks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 Initial Access through Web Application Exploitation, where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to establish a foothold within target networks. Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerabilities, implementation of web application firewalls to filter malicious input, and strict input validation controls within the affected web interfaces. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify other potentially vulnerable web applications and ensure proper input sanitization practices are implemented across all web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security firmware and implementing robust security controls within network infrastructure devices that serve as gateways to enterprise networks.