CVE-2017-9931 in DX-350
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) exists in Green Packet DX-350 Firmware version v2.8.9.5-g1.4.8-atheeb, as demonstrated by the action parameter to ajax.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9931 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Green Packet DX-350 network security appliance firmware version v2.8.9.5-g1.4.8-atheeb. This vulnerability specifically affects the web-based administrative interface of the device through the ajax.cgi script, which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The affected parameter named 'action' within the ajax.cgi endpoint serves as the primary attack vector for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the application's response. This flaw enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the network security infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the firmware's web interface implementation. When the action parameter is submitted to the ajax.cgi script, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web responses. This lack of proper input filtering creates an environment where malicious payloads can be executed within the browser context of authenticated users who interact with the device's administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting attack, where the malicious script is reflected back to the user's browser through the vulnerable parameter. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability, which falls under the broader category of web application security weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that could compromise the entire network security infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this XSS vulnerability to steal administrative session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify the device's configuration settings, or even inject persistent scripts that would execute whenever the administrative interface is accessed. The implications are particularly severe for network security appliances like the Green Packet DX-350, as these devices often serve as critical gateways for network traffic control and security policy enforcement. Successful exploitation could allow adversaries to gain unauthorized access to network monitoring capabilities, modify firewall rules, or disable security features, thereby creating persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and could potentially lead to further privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9931 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to the affected device, while also deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Input validation mechanisms should be strengthened to ensure all parameters passed to the ajax.cgi endpoint undergo proper sanitization before being processed or returned in web responses. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious script patterns in web traffic to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should conduct regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices to identify similar vulnerabilities in other firmware components. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the risks of interacting with untrusted web interfaces and the importance of maintaining current firmware versions to protect against known security vulnerabilities.