CVE-2019-7482 in SMA100
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in SonicWall SMA100 allows an unauthenticated user to execute arbitrary code in function libSys.so. This vulnerability impacted SMA100 version 9.0.0.3 and earlier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The SonicWall SMA100 series appliances represent enterprise-grade network security devices designed to provide secure remote access and network connectivity solutions. These appliances operate as part of critical network infrastructure, handling sensitive data flows and serving as gateways for remote users to access corporate resources. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7482 specifically targets the libSys.so library component within the SMA100 firmware, which serves as a foundational system library for various operational functions. This particular device variant was widely deployed in enterprise environments where secure network access and remote connectivity are paramount requirements for business continuity.
The technical flaw manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow within the libSys.so library, specifically within the function that processes certain input parameters. This vulnerability occurs when unauthenticated attackers can send specially crafted malicious input to the appliance, which then gets processed without proper bounds checking in the vulnerable function. The buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects SMA100 devices running firmware versions 9.0.0.3 and earlier, indicating that this was a significant flaw that required immediate attention from organizations relying on these security appliances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected SonicWall SMA100 appliances. An unauthenticated attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the affected appliance, potentially leading to unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical network services. The attack vector requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any valid credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the network infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent backdoors, monitor network traffic, or use the compromised appliance as a launching point for further attacks against internal network resources.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, as SonicWall released patches specifically targeting CVE-2019-7482. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of these appliances to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow classification and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and persistence tactics. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing compromised appliance scenarios. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should include verification of appliance firmware versions to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting operational environments.