CVE-2018-17446 in SD-WAN
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL Injection issue was discovered in Citrix SD-WAN 10.1.0 and NetScaler SD-WAN 9.3.x before 9.3.6 and 10.0.x before 10.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17446 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Citrix SD-WAN and NetScaler SD-WAN product lines. This security weakness manifests in versions 10.1.0 of SD-WAN and 9.3.x versions prior to 9.3.6, as well as 10.0.x versions before 10.0.4, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on these network optimization solutions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web administration interface of these appliances, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through crafted input fields.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the authentication and administrative interfaces of the Citrix SD-WAN appliances. When administrators or users interact with the web console, specific parameters are not adequately escaped or validated before being incorporated into SQL queries executed by the backend database. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a common weakness in database-driven applications, and specifically maps to the broader category of CWE-20, representing improper input validation. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the appliance's database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary database commands and potentially escalate privileges within the affected systems. Successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the appliance, allowing attackers to access configuration data, user credentials, network topology information, and other sensitive operational details. The implications are particularly severe for network infrastructure monitoring and optimization solutions, as these appliances often contain critical network information and may serve as central points of administration for distributed network environments. Organizations using these appliances could face significant disruption to their network operations and potential data breaches that could affect multiple network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17446 should prioritize immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches and updates to versions 9.3.6, 10.0.4, and 10.1.0, respectively, which address the underlying SQL injection vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls, input validation rules, and regular security assessments of the affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, and T1071.004, focusing on application layer protocols. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure operational continuity while maintaining security posture against this and similar threats.