CVE-2020-24057 in S5120FD
Summary
by MITRE
The management website of the Verint S5120FD Verint_FW_0_42 unit features a CGI endpoint ('ipfilter.cgi') that allows the user to manage network filtering on the unit. This endpoint is vulnerable to a command injection. An authenticated attacker can leverage this issue to execute arbitrary commands as 'root'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24057 resides within the Verint S5120FD security appliance running firmware version 0.42, specifically targeting the management web interface's network filtering capabilities. This device operates as a network security appliance designed to protect enterprise environments from unauthorized access and malicious traffic. The affected component is a CGI endpoint named 'ipfilter.cgi' which serves as the administrative interface for configuring IP-based network filtering rules. The endpoint's implementation fails to properly sanitize user input, creating a critical command injection vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary system commands with root privileges. This represents a severe security flaw in a network security device that directly undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the protected network environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ipfilter.cgi endpoint implementation. When administrators or authorized users interact with the network filtering management interface, the system processes user-supplied parameters without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This allows an authenticated attacker to inject malicious commands that get executed within the context of the web server process. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection flaw, which aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, where user-controllable data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper validation. The attack vector requires authentication since the endpoint demands valid administrative credentials, but once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary commands with root-level access. The system's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters creates a direct path for command injection attacks that bypass normal access controls and security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of any network protected by the affected Verint S5120FD appliance. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the device, potentially leading to network reconnaissance, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The root-level access enables the attacker to modify firewall rules, disable security features, install malicious software, or manipulate network traffic flows to redirect or intercept communications. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within the network, as the compromised appliance can serve as a pivot point for attacking other systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the device operates as a network security appliance, meaning it likely controls critical network boundaries and traffic flow, making its compromise a significant threat to overall network security and compliance requirements.
Organizations utilizing the affected Verint S5120FD appliances should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided firmware update that patches the command injection vulnerability in the ipfilter.cgi endpoint. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting administrative access to the appliance through network segmentation, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns in system logs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper sanitization in web applications, particularly in security-critical components that handle administrative functions. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all network security appliances to identify similar command injection vulnerabilities and ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. This vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security testing and firmware updates to maintain the security posture of network infrastructure devices, as outlined in industry best practices for network security management and incident response protocols.