CVE-2016-7397 in UTM
Summary
by MITRE
The Frontend component in Sophos UTM with firmware 9.405-5 and earlier allows local administrators to obtain sensitive password information by reading the "value" field of the SMTP user settings in the notifications configuration tab.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7397 resides within the Frontend component of Sophos UTM firmware versions 9.405-5 and earlier, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that compromises the security posture of network infrastructure devices. This vulnerability specifically targets the notifications configuration tab where SMTP user settings are managed, creating an avenue for local administrators to access sensitive credential information that should remain protected. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control mechanisms within the device's web interface, where administrative privileges do not properly restrict access to password fields that contain sensitive configuration data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege escalation within the configuration management interface. When local administrators attempt to view or modify SMTP user settings through the notifications configuration tab, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict access to the "value" field that contains password information. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the application does not properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate clearance to access sensitive configuration parameters. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the web-based management interface of the Sophos UTM device, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user with local administrative access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the device and creates potential attack vectors for both internal and external threat actors. Local administrators with legitimate access could inadvertently or maliciously extract password information that should remain confidential, potentially leading to unauthorized access to email notification systems and broader network resources. The vulnerability also presents a significant risk for privilege escalation attacks where compromised local administrator accounts could be leveraged to gain access to additional systems that rely on the same SMTP credentials for notification services. This flaw aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system design.
Organizations utilizing Sophos UTM devices with affected firmware versions face substantial security risks as this vulnerability enables unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data that could be exploited for further attacks. The impact is particularly severe given that SMTP credentials often serve as entry points to broader email infrastructure and notification systems that may be used for critical security alerts and communications. Attackers could potentially use the extracted password information to send malicious emails, relay messages through the compromised system, or establish persistence within the network environment. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks where the same SMTP credentials might be used across multiple systems, potentially leading to widespread compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7397 require immediate firmware updates to versions that address the privilege escalation and access control flaws within the Frontend component. Organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring for administrative accounts to detect unauthorized access attempts to configuration settings. Network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit access to sensitive configuration data, while regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized users have access to administrative interfaces. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated firmware to ensure that the vulnerability is properly resolved without introducing new issues, and organizations should conduct thorough reviews of their configuration management practices to prevent similar flaws in other systems. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in network security devices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering or system exploitation.