CVE-2017-9467 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the GlobalProtect external 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-2017-9467 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GlobalProtect external interface of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the firewall operating system, specifically targeting the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and manage GlobalProtect VPN services. The flaw exists in the way the system processes user input when handling requests through the external interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the GlobalProtect external interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are processed through unspecified vectors within the web application layer. The vulnerability does not require authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as remote attackers can leverage it without needing valid credentials. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data before including it in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to establish persistent access to the affected system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The GlobalProtect interface serves as a critical gateway for remote access to corporate networks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Palo Alto firewalls for secure remote connectivity. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams including 6.1.x, 7.x, 7.1.x, and 8.x indicates a widespread exposure across the PAN-OS product line, affecting organizations with various deployment scenarios.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-supplied patches. The specific versions mentioned for patching include PAN-OS 6.1.18, 7.0.16, 7.1.11, and 8.0.3, representing the minimum recommended versions to address the flaw. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on traffic patterns associated with the GlobalProtect external interface. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as attackers may use the XSS capability to execute malicious scripts within the browser context of affected users. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation controls and proper output encoding as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017 category A03:2017 - Injection, which emphasizes the need for robust sanitization of user inputs to prevent code injection attacks.