CVE-2017-11396 in Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability issues with the web service inspection of input parameters in Trend Micro Web Security Virtual Appliance 6.5 may allow potential attackers who already have administration rights to the console to implement remote code injections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11396 represents a critical security flaw within the Trend Micro Web Security Virtual Appliance version 6.5, specifically affecting the web service inspection mechanism for input parameters. This issue resides in the appliance's handling of administrative console interactions where input validation procedures fail to properly sanitize user-provided data. The vulnerability stems from inadequate parameter validation within the web service layer that processes administrative commands and configuration inputs. Attackers with existing administrative privileges can exploit this weakness to inject malicious code directly into the system through carefully crafted input parameters. The flaw essentially creates a path for privilege escalation and code execution within the appliance's operational environment, potentially allowing unauthorized manipulation of system functions and data processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web service's insufficient sanitization of input parameters that are processed through the administrative console interface. When administrators interact with the appliance's management web interface, the system fails to adequately validate or sanitize input data before processing these parameters within the backend services. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious code sequences that can be executed within the appliance's operational context. The vulnerability specifically affects the parameter inspection mechanisms that handle administrative commands, configuration changes, and user management operations. The flaw operates at the application layer where user inputs are not properly escaped or filtered before being processed by the web service components. This creates an environment where crafted input sequences can bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the administrative account.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11396 extends beyond simple code injection capabilities, as it provides attackers with significant control over the web security appliance's functionality. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows for complete compromise of the appliance's administrative interface, potentially enabling attackers to modify security policies, redirect traffic, or establish persistent access points within the network. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only existing administrative access, meaning that attackers who have already gained initial access to the appliance's console can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges and gain deeper system control. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the appliance's logging and monitoring capabilities, potentially allowing them to cover their tracks and maintain long-term access to the compromised system.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patch deployment from Trend Micro to remediate the specific code inspection flaws. Organizations must also enforce strict access control measures and implement principle of least privilege policies for administrative accounts to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a variant of input validation weaknesses that enable code injection attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and command execution within target systems, specifically targeting the web application layer and administrative interfaces.
The remediation approach should prioritize immediate patch management alongside comprehensive security auditing of administrative access logs and system configurations. Organizations must conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred before patch deployment. Regular security monitoring should focus on unusual administrative activities and parameter processing patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation of similar input validation flaws. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization and parameter validation in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges exist. Security teams should also implement automated scanning solutions that can detect similar weaknesses in other web applications and systems within their infrastructure, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader architectural security gaps that require comprehensive remediation strategies.