CVE-2019-6147 in NGFW Security Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
Forcepoint NGFW Security Management Center (SMC) versions lower than 6.5.12 or 6.7.1 have a rare issue that in specific circumstances can corrupt the internal configuration database. When the database is corrupted, the SMC might produce an incorrect IPsec configuration for the Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), possibly resulting in settings that are weaker than expected. All SMC versions lower than 6.5.12 or 6.7.1 are vulnerable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6147 affects Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall Security Management Center (SMC) versions prior to 6.5.12 and 6.7.1, representing a critical configuration integrity issue within enterprise network security infrastructure. This flaw manifests as a rare but potentially severe database corruption event that can compromise the overall security posture of organizations relying on Forcepoint NGFW solutions. The vulnerability resides in the SMC's internal database management system, which serves as the central configuration repository for all NGFW policies and security settings. When triggered under specific circumstances, the corruption process can lead to the generation of malformed IPsec configurations that significantly weaken the security controls of the protected network infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate database consistency checks and error handling mechanisms within the SMC's configuration management processes. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the database integrity management system, specifically categorized under CWE-1104 which deals with weak database integrity checks. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network security stack, affecting the configuration management functionality that directly impacts the operational security of the entire NGFW deployment. The corrupted database state can cause the SMC to generate incorrect IPsec policies that may inadvertently expose network segments to unauthorized access or reduce encryption strength below acceptable security thresholds.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations that depend on Forcepoint NGFW for perimeter security and internal network segmentation. The impact extends beyond simple configuration errors to potentially compromise the fundamental security controls that protect enterprise assets from external threats and internal security breaches. When the SMC produces weakened IPsec configurations, network traffic may be transmitted with reduced encryption strength or improper tunnel parameters, creating potential attack vectors for adversaries who might exploit these weaknesses to intercept sensitive communications or gain unauthorized access to protected network zones. The rarity of the corruption event does not diminish its severity, as the consequences can be catastrophic when it occurs in production environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to Forcepoint SMC versions 6.5.12 or 6.7.1, which contain the necessary database integrity fixes and error handling improvements. The remediation process should also include comprehensive database integrity checks and configuration validation procedures to identify any existing corruption that may have occurred before the upgrade. Network security teams should conduct thorough audits of all IPsec configurations generated by the SMC to ensure that encryption strength and tunnel parameters meet established security requirements. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged by adversaries in the Credential Access and Defense Evasion domains, as compromised IPsec configurations might enable traffic interception or provide alternative access paths through weakened security controls. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring procedures to detect unusual configuration changes or database anomalies that could indicate the occurrence of this corruption event, ensuring continuous protection of their network security infrastructure.