CVE-2018-6677 in Web Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Directory Traversal vulnerability in the administrative user interface in McAfee Web Gateway (MWG) MWG 7.8.1.x allows authenticated administrator users to gain elevated privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The CVE-2018-6677 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within McAfee Web Gateway version 7.8.1.x administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically targets the privileged administrative user interface components of the MWG appliance, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this web gateway solution. The flaw enables authenticated administrator users to exploit unspecified vectors that ultimately allow for privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources and administrative functions.
This directory traversal vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the MWG administrative interface. The flaw operates by allowing authenticated users to manipulate file paths or directory references in ways that bypass normal access controls, potentially enabling them to access restricted system files or execute unauthorized operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative interface where users already possess elevated privileges, making the privilege escalation aspect especially dangerous for attackers seeking to maximize their access within the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can potentially enable attackers to access sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, or even extract confidential information from the MWG appliance. Organizations utilizing MWG 7.8.1.x may face significant risks including unauthorized access to network traffic monitoring capabilities, modification of security policies, and potential data exfiltration through compromised administrative access. The vulnerability's presence in the administrative user interface means that any authenticated administrator account could potentially be exploited to gain deeper system access than intended by the security design.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of improper input validation and access control weakness that aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal vulnerabilities. The attack vector typically involves manipulating path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside of intended directories, though the specific implementation details in MWG 7.8.1.x may involve more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving access token manipulation and credential access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6677 should include immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for MWG 7.8.1.x appliances. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of administrative interface activities to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Access control measures should be strengthened through proper user privilege management, ensuring that only necessary personnel have administrative access to MWG appliances. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security appliances and systems within the organization's infrastructure.