CVE-2016-7786 in Cyberoam UTM CR25iNG
Summary
by MITRE
Sophos Cyberoam UTM CR25iNG 10.6.3 MR-5 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions via direct object reference, as demonstrated by a request for Licenseinformation.jsp. This is fixed in 10.6.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7786 affects Sophos Cyberoam UTM CR25iNG version 10.6.3 MR-5, representing a critical access control flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions. This issue manifests through direct object reference vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized access to restricted administrative resources. The specific exploit vector involves a crafted request to Licenseinformation.jsp, which demonstrates how improper input validation and access control mechanisms can be manipulated to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability exists within the web application layer of the cybersecurity appliance, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. This type of flaw directly relates to CWE-284, which categorizes improper access control vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized users to access resources they should not be permitted to reach. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects a network security appliance that serves as a central point of control for enterprise security policies and configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization checks within the application's object reference handling mechanism. When authenticated users make requests to specific administrative endpoints such as Licenseinformation.jsp, the system does not properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to access the requested resource. This failure in access control validation creates a pathway for privilege escalation where legitimate users can manipulate object references to access administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The flaw operates at the application logic level, where the system assumes that authenticated users can access all available resources without proper permission checks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which describes valid accounts usage for persistence and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage legitimate authenticated sessions to access restricted functionality. The impact is amplified because the appliance serves as a central security gateway, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with comprehensive access to network security configurations, monitoring capabilities, and administrative controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security architecture of the Cyberoam UTM appliance. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially access license information, which may contain sensitive details about software entitlements, usage metrics, and subscription data. More critically, the ability to bypass access restrictions on administrative interfaces could enable attackers to modify security policies, configure network rules, or disable security features entirely. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the appliance serves as a primary security control, as it could allow attackers to weaken the overall security posture of the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the security infrastructure, potentially enabling attackers to gain persistent access to network monitoring systems and administrative controls. Organizations relying on this appliance for network security would face significant risk if attackers could exploit this flaw to access administrative interfaces and manipulate security configurations.
The remediation for CVE-2016-7786 requires immediate deployment of Sophos Cyberoam UTM version 10.6.5, which includes proper access control validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized object reference access. Security administrators should conduct thorough assessments of their current deployment to ensure all affected appliances are updated to the patched version. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper authorization checks before allowing access to sensitive administrative resources, ensuring that each request is validated against the user's actual privileges and permissions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional mitigations include enforcing strict access control policies, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and conducting regular security assessments of network security appliances. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those serving security-critical functions. Security teams should review their existing access control mechanisms to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems, as the principles underlying this flaw apply broadly to web application security. Regular patch management processes should be reinforced to ensure timely deployment of security updates and minimize the window of exposure to known vulnerabilities.