CVE-2019-9696 in VIP Enterprise Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec VIP Enterprise Gateway (all versions) may be susceptible to a cross-site scripting (XSS) exploit, which is a type of issue that can enable attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. A cross-site scripting vulnerability may be used by attackers to potentially bypass access controls such as the same-origin policy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The Symantec VIP Enterprise Gateway vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9696 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of enterprise authentication systems. This vulnerability affects all versions of the Symantec VIP Enterprise Gateway, making it a widespread concern across organizations that rely on Symantec's identity and access management solutions. The flaw exists within the web interface of the gateway system, which serves as a critical component for managing multi-factor authentication and user access control in enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web application layer of the VIP Enterprise Gateway. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious JavaScript code through carefully crafted user input fields or parameters within the web interface. When legitimate users browse pages containing this malicious content, the injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially compromising the session and bypassing the same-origin policy that normally protects web applications from cross-domain attacks. This vulnerability specifically manifests in the gateway's authentication and management interfaces, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9696 extends far beyond typical XSS consequences, as it directly compromises the integrity of enterprise authentication systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially hijack user sessions, escalate privileges, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions within the VIP Enterprise Gateway. The attack vector allows for session management bypass, which means that unauthorized individuals could impersonate legitimate users and gain access to protected enterprise resources. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations that depend on the gateway for critical access control functions, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the authentication infrastructure. The same-origin policy bypass capability makes this exploit particularly dangerous, as it enables attackers to access data and functionality that should be restricted to authorized users only.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation enhancements, output encoding improvements, and comprehensive security testing of the web interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices recommended by OWASP. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566, specifically targeting the credential access phase through web application exploitation. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls, implement strict content security policies, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, Symantec released patches and updates to address this specific vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of maintaining current security software versions. The broader implications suggest that enterprises should review their entire authentication infrastructure for similar weaknesses and implement defense-in-depth strategies that include network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious activities, and regular security training for administrators who interact with these critical systems.