CVE-2022-1702 in SMA1000
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2022
SonicWall SMA1000 series firmware 12.4.0, 12.4.1-02965 and earlier versions accept a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site and uses that link in a redirect which leads to Open redirection vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2022
The SonicWall SMA1000 series appliances represent enterprise-grade secure access solutions that provide virtual private network capabilities and unified threat management functions for organizations. These devices operate as critical network infrastructure components handling sensitive corporate data and user authentication processes. The vulnerability in question affects firmware versions 12.4.0 through 12.4.1-02965 and earlier, indicating a widespread issue affecting multiple iterations of the appliance line. This particular vulnerability manifests as an open redirect flaw that compromises the device's ability to properly validate external link inputs, creating potential security risks for organizations relying on these appliances for network access control.
The technical flaw resides in how the SMA1000 firmware processes user-controlled input that specifies external links for redirect operations. When a user provides a link to an external site through the device interface, the firmware accepts this input without adequate validation or sanitization before incorporating it into redirect mechanisms. This lack of proper input validation creates a condition where malicious actors can manipulate the redirect functionality to point to arbitrary external destinations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the device's web-based management interface where external link configurations are processed. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-601: Open Redirect vulnerability where the application redirects users to untrusted destinations without proper validation, making it susceptible to phishing attacks and user deception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection capabilities and presents significant security implications for organizations using SonicWall SMA1000 appliances. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to craft malicious redirects that appear legitimate to users, potentially leading to credential harvesting or malware distribution through phishing campaigns. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the management interface of the device itself, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate the appliance's behavior or redirect administrators to malicious sites during routine management tasks. This creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers intercept user credentials or sensitive configuration data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566: Phishing and T1071.004: Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as it enables attackers to manipulate network traffic redirection and user navigation patterns.
Organizations utilizing affected SonicWall SMA1000 appliances should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves upgrading to firmware versions that have been patched to address the open redirect flaw, specifically targeting firmware versions beyond 12.4.1-02965. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, and conduct thorough monitoring of redirect operations within the appliance's management interface. Regular security assessments should include verification that external link inputs are properly validated and sanitized before being processed. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if an attacker compromises the appliance's redirect functionality, they cannot easily move laterally within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in network security appliances, particularly those handling user interactions through web interfaces.