CVE-2016-4789 in Connect Secure
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the system configuration section in the administrative user interface in Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.2 before 8.2r1, 8.1 before 8.1r2, 8.0 before 8.0r9, and 7.4 before 7.4r13.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The CVE-2016-4789 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the administrative user interface of Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) versions spanning multiple release lines including 8.2 before 8.2r1, 8.1 before 8.1r2, 8.0 before 8.0r9, and 7.4 before 7.4r13.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the system configuration section of the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with access to sensitive administrative functions. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code through unspecified attack vectors, potentially compromising the entire administrative environment. The vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface, which is typically accessed by authorized administrators but may be targeted by malicious actors seeking to exploit the administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative configuration pages of Pulse Connect Secure. When administrators interact with the system configuration section, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the web interface. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of an authenticated administrator's session. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple input fields or parameters within the administrative interface, potentially affecting various configuration settings and management functions. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4789 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code within the administrative context of the Pulse Connect Secure appliance. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify system configurations, create new administrative accounts, access sensitive network information, or even escalate privileges to full system control. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative interface, meaning that any successful attack could compromise the entire secure access infrastructure managed by Pulse Connect Secure. Organizations using affected versions of the software face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network security controls, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain persistent access to corporate networks. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or direct network connectivity to the appliance itself.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4789 primarily involve immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating their Pulse Connect Secure appliances to versions 8.2r1, 8.1r2, 8.0r9, or 7.4r13.4 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary input validation and output encoding improvements. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit access to the administrative interface to only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs. Regular monitoring of administrative interface access logs should be conducted to detect any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls specifically configured to detect and block XSS attack patterns, enforcing strict input validation policies, and conducting regular security assessments of the administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establishing robust incident response procedures to quickly address any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of failing to apply security updates promptly.