CVE-2023-6903 in NS-ASG Application Security Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 12/18/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Netentsec NS-ASG Application Security Gateway 6.3.1. This affects an unknown part of the file /admin/singlelogin.php?submit=1. The manipulation of the argument loginId leads to sql injection. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-248265 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6903 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Netentsec NS-ASG Application Security Gateway version 6.3.1. This security weakness resides in the administrative interface component located at /admin/singlelogin.php?submit=1 where the loginId parameter is improperly handled. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. This flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands through the loginId parameter, potentially compromising the entire database backend and underlying system infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic sql injection attack vector where the application directly concatenates user input into sql query strings without proper parameterization or escaping. When an attacker submits a specially crafted loginId value containing sql payload characters, the application processes this input without adequate security controls, enabling the execution of unauthorized database operations. The attack can be initiated remotely through the web interface, eliminating the need for physical access or privileged network positions. This remote exploit capability significantly increases the attack surface and potential impact scope, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability from any network location with access to the affected application.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6903 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain full administrative control over the application's database. This includes the ability to read, modify, or delete sensitive information, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, and potentially escalate the attack to compromise other systems within the network perimeter protected by the security gateway. The vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism of the application, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow unauthorized access to the administrative interface itself, bypassing normal security controls and potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations relying on this security gateway for network protection face significant risk of unauthorized access to their protected environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Netentsec NS-ASG Application Security Gateway version 6.3.1 to address the sql injection flaw. Network administrators should implement input validation controls at the application level, including parameterized queries and proper input sanitization techniques to prevent sql injection attacks. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, restricting administrative access through network segmentation, and monitoring database activities for suspicious query patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness classification and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK framework's T1190 exploitation via web application attack pattern, requiring immediate remediation to prevent potential data breaches and system compromise.