CVE-2017-9459 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the management web interface in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 6.1.18, 7.x before 7.0.16, 7.1.x before 7.1.11, and 8.x before 8.0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2021
The CVE-2017-9459 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS management web interface across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability affects organizations utilizing Palo Alto firewalls and security appliances that have not upgraded to the patched versions. The flaw exists within the web management interface component of the operating system, creating a persistent security risk for network administrators and security personnel who interact with the device through browser-based management tools. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can potentially enable attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the victim's browser session, compromising the integrity of the management interface and potentially leading to full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web management interface components of PAN-OS. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed when administrators view affected pages within the management console. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through various input points including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data elements within the web interface. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple major version branches indicates a fundamental flaw in the input sanitization mechanisms that was not adequately addressed in the development lifecycle.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of CVE-2017-9459 could enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to network configuration data. Network administrators who regularly access the management interface become potential targets for this attack vector, as the vulnerability specifically targets the privileged management interface that contains sensitive configuration information and administrative controls. The impact is particularly severe because it allows attackers to execute code within the browser context of authenticated administrators, potentially enabling them to modify firewall rules, access network traffic monitoring capabilities, or even gain persistence within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering and web application attacks, making it a significant concern for enterprise security operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended patches from Palo Alto Networks, specifically upgrading to PAN-OS versions 6.1.18, 7.0.16, 7.1.11, or 8.0.3 respectively. Network security teams should also consider implementing additional mitigations including web application firewalls, input validation rules, and monitoring for suspicious activity in management interface access logs. The vulnerability's presence in the management interface makes it particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure. Security professionals should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish network segmentation strategies to limit the impact of successful attacks. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched versions to ensure that the XSS vulnerability is properly resolved while maintaining operational continuity of the security infrastructure.