CVE-2018-9334 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
The PAN-OS management web interface page in PAN-OS 6.1.20 and earlier, PAN-OS 7.1.16 and earlier, PAN-OS 8.0.8 and earlier, and PAN-OS 8.1.0 may allow an attacker to access the GlobalProtect password hashes of local users via manipulation of the HTML markup.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9334 affects Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS management web interface across multiple versions including 6.1.20 and earlier, 7.1.16 and earlier, 8.0.8 and earlier, and 8.1.0. This security flaw resides within the GlobalProtect functionality of the firewall platform and represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that could enable unauthorized access to sensitive authentication data. The vulnerability specifically impacts the management web interface component that handles GlobalProtect user configurations and password hash storage.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the HTML markup processing of the PAN-OS web interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating HTML elements to bypass normal access controls and retrieve GlobalProtect password hashes that are stored for local users within the system. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where insufficient validation of input data allows malicious actors to inject hostile markup into web responses. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to manipulate the web interface's rendering process to expose sensitive credential information that should normally be protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9334 is severe and potentially devastating for organizations relying on Palo Alto Networks firewalls for security infrastructure. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to obtain password hashes for local users configured within the GlobalProtect service, which could then be subjected to offline password cracking attacks or used for lateral movement within the network. The exposure of these hashes compromises the authentication security of local users and potentially provides attackers with persistent access credentials that could be used to bypass other security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that utilize GlobalProtect for remote access management, as it directly undermines the security of their remote access infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of PAN-OS that address the HTML markup manipulation issue. The recommended remediation involves applying the latest security patches from Palo Alto Networks as these updates typically include proper input validation and output encoding controls that prevent malicious HTML injection. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and access controls around GlobalProtect configurations, and organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as it enables adversaries to obtain legitimate user credentials through exploitation of web interface flaws. The security community has classified this as a high-severity vulnerability due to its potential for credential compromise and the ease with which it can be exploited through HTML manipulation techniques.