CVE-2019-13285 in Endpoint Protector
Summary
by MITRE
CoSoSys Endpoint Protector 5.1.0.2 allows Host Header Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-13285 represents a host header injection flaw in CoSoSys Endpoint Protector version 5.1.0.2, a security solution designed to protect endpoints from various cyber threats. This issue arises from insufficient validation of host headers in HTTP requests processed by the application's web interface, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management console of the endpoint protection software, which is commonly used by security administrators to configure and monitor protection policies across enterprise networks.
Host header injection occurs when an application fails to properly validate or sanitize host headers received from client requests, allowing attackers to inject malicious host values that can influence how the application processes subsequent requests. In the context of CoSoSys Endpoint Protector, this flaw could enable attackers to manipulate the application's internal routing logic, potentially redirecting requests to unintended destinations or bypassing authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on user-supplied host header values without adequate sanitization or validation, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's operational context and potentially execute unauthorized actions within the protected environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple request manipulation, as it could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, conduct cross-site scripting attacks, or manipulate application behavior to gain elevated privileges within the endpoint protection framework. Security administrators who rely on the web interface for configuration management could be particularly vulnerable, as attackers might exploit this weakness to modify protection policies, disable security features, or redirect administrative traffic to malicious endpoints. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on CoSoSys Endpoint Protector for comprehensive endpoint security management, potentially compromising the integrity of their entire endpoint protection infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13285 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected CoSoSys Endpoint Protector version to address the host header injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious host header values, while also establishing proper input validation mechanisms at the application level. Security teams should conduct thorough network monitoring to detect any suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and review existing access controls to ensure that administrative interfaces are properly secured. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which classifies improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in application security, and may be exploited using techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1190 category for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their endpoint protection infrastructure.