CVE-2018-20813 in Pulse Connect Secure
Summary
by MITRE
An input validation issue has been found with login_meeting.cgi in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure 8.3RX before 8.3R2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20813 represents a critical input validation flaw within the Pulse Connect Secure 8.3RX software suite, specifically affecting the login_meeting.cgi component. This issue exists within the Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure appliance version 8.3RX prior to 8.3R2, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this version of the secure access platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user inputs processed by the login_meeting.cgi script, which forms part of the web-based administrative interface for managing secure connections and meetings within the Pulse Secure environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of input validation failures, which aligns with CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate input parameters passed to the login_meeting.cgi script, potentially enabling unauthorized access to the secure portal. This weakness exists because the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the data submitted through the login interface, particularly concerning meeting-related parameters. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms, potentially gaining administrative privileges or access to restricted resources within the secure environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-20813 extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as it can lead to complete compromise of the Pulse Connect Secure appliance. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to access sensitive network resources, intercept communications, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the secure access platform. Organizations relying on this vulnerable version face significant risk of data breaches, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the platform, undermining the fundamental security posture of organizations using Pulse Connect Secure for remote access and secure communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20813 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as Pulse Secure released version 8.3R2 to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize upgrading their Pulse Connect Secure appliances to the patched version to eliminate the input validation flaw. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or attempts to exploit the vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input traffic targeting the login_meeting.cgi endpoint. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper input validation practices, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior in their secure access infrastructure.