CVE-2023-49694 in ProSAFE Network Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/30/2023
A low-privileged OS user with access to a Windows host where NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System is installed can create arbitrary JSP files in a Tomcat web application directory. The user can then execute the JSP files under the security context of SYSTEM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System running on Windows hosts with embedded Tomcat web server components. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and directory permissions within the web application deployment structure, allowing low-privileged users to bypass normal security boundaries and execute arbitrary code with elevated SYSTEM privileges. The flaw specifically targets the Tomcat web application directory where JSP files are processed, creating a path traversal and code execution vector that fundamentally undermines the security model of the network management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a combination of directory traversal attacks and insufficient input validation within the web application's file handling mechanisms. When a low-privileged user interacts with the ProSAFE NMS interface, they can manipulate file creation parameters to place malicious JSP files in the Tomcat web application directory. This directory typically contains the web application's executable components, and the vulnerability allows arbitrary file creation within this protected space. The JSP files are then executed by the Tomcat server under the SYSTEM security context, which provides complete administrative control over the host system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it transforms a basic user account into a system administrator level privilege. An attacker with minimal network access can escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level without requiring additional authentication or exploitation techniques. This creates a persistent backdoor that can be used for data exfiltration, lateral movement, and complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the entire Windows host environment since the Tomcat application runs with elevated privileges and has access to system resources and network interfaces. Network security teams face significant challenges as this attack vector can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the device.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict file system permissions and access controls within the Tomcat web application directory. Network administrators must ensure that the web application directory has appropriate discretionary access control lists that prevent arbitrary file creation by unprivileged users. Additionally, the ProSAFE NMS should be configured with network segmentation to limit exposure to unauthorized users, and regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized JSP files exist in the web application directories. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Path Traversal, while the privilege escalation aspect maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, and the remote code execution component corresponds to T1190. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual file creation patterns in web application directories, as this represents a common indicator of compromise for such vulnerabilities.