CVE-2021-22938 in Pulse Connect Secure
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2021
A vulnerability in Pulse Connect Secure before 9.1R12 could allow an authenticated administrator to perform command injection via an unsanitized web parameter in the administrator web console.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2022
This vulnerability exists within Pulse Connect Secure software version 9.1R12 and earlier, representing a critical command injection flaw that affects the administrator web console interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization mechanisms within the web application layer, specifically in how the system processes user-supplied parameters. An authenticated administrator with access to the web console can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious commands through unsanitized web parameters, potentially executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the web application process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77, which defines command injection as the condition where a software application passes untrusted data to an operating system command without proper sanitization or validation. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious input parameters that bypass normal input validation checks, allowing them to inject operating system commands directly into the application's execution flow. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector since the attacker already possesses administrative credentials, meaning they can execute commands with elevated privileges typically reserved for system administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform comprehensive system compromise activities. An attacker could potentially gain access to sensitive configuration files, extract user credentials, modify network policies, or even establish persistence mechanisms within the secure environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using Pulse Connect Secure for remote access and network security, making it particularly dangerous for enterprises that rely on this platform for secure remote connectivity. The attack surface is limited to authenticated administrators, but the privilege escalation potential means that even a compromised administrative account could lead to complete system compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to Pulse Connect Secure version 9.1R12 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrator console access should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of operating system commands through web interfaces. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of defense against similar injection attacks. Regular security audits and privileged access monitoring should be enforced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against this or similar vulnerabilities.