CVE-2020-28580 in InterScan Web Security Virtual Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2020
A command injection vulnerability in AddVLANItem of Trend Micro InterScan Web Security Virtual Appliance 6.5 SP2 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to send specially crafted HTTP messages and execute arbitrary OS commands with elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-28580 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Trend Micro InterScan Web Security Virtual Appliance version 6.5 SP2. This security weakness resides in the AddVLANItem functionality, which processes incoming HTTP requests containing VLAN configuration data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands. An authenticated attacker who can establish a connection to the appliance's web interface can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTTP requests that contain specially formatted payloads designed to inject operating system commands into the underlying execution pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a command injection pattern that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, where user-controllable input is improperly incorporated into command execution contexts without adequate sanitization. The affected appliance operates on a Linux-based system where the AddVLANItem function processes configuration parameters through a web interface that directly translates these inputs into system commands. When an attacker submits crafted HTTP requests containing malicious command sequences, the appliance's processing logic fails to validate or sanitize these inputs, allowing the injected commands to be executed with the privileges of the web server process. Given that the appliance typically runs with elevated privileges to manage network security functions, successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with system-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected appliance's operating system. This includes the ability to modify or delete configuration files, install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised appliance as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The vulnerability's remote and authenticated nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter, provided they can obtain valid credentials for the appliance. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on the appliance for web security filtering, as the compromise could lead to complete loss of web traffic filtering capabilities and potential data breaches through the attacker's ability to bypass security controls. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the vulnerability affects a core network security component, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to enterprise networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-28580 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Trend Micro appliance to the latest available security update. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of the appliance to untrusted networks, while enforcing strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and the appliance should be configured to operate with the principle of least privilege, running with minimal necessary permissions. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough network assessments to identify any potential lateral movement by attackers who may have already exploited this vulnerability, and implement proper log monitoring and incident response procedures to detect and respond to any compromise attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework would place it within the command and scripting interpreter tactics, specifically targeting execution through legitimate system interfaces.