CVE-2024-43385 in FL MGUARD 2102
Summary
by MITRE • 09/10/2024
A low privileged remote attacker can trigger the execution of arbitrary OS commands as root due to improper neutralization of special elements in the variable PROXY_HTTP_PORT in mGuard devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-43385 represents a critical command injection flaw within mGuard network security appliances that allows low-privileged remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands with root privileges. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the device's proxy configuration handling, specifically affecting the PROXY_HTTP_PORT variable. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the device's command execution pipeline by injecting malicious payloads through this particular configuration parameter, bypassing normal authentication and authorization controls that should prevent such privileged operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, which respectively address improper neutralization of special elements used in command injection attacks and the execution of code built from external input. The mGuard device fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input when processing the PROXY_HTTP_PORT variable, allowing attackers to inject OS command characters and sequences that get interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. This improper input handling creates a direct path for attackers to escalate privileges from their initial low-privileged remote access to full root-level system control.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to network security infrastructure as it enables remote attackers to gain complete system compromise without requiring authentication credentials or physical access to the device. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to include potential data exfiltration, system modification, network reconnaissance, and further lateral movement within the compromised network environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, modify firewall rules, disable security features, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network perimeter. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring direct network access to the device.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate mGuard devices from untrusted networks, deployment of network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns, and implementation of web application firewalls to filter malicious input. The device manufacturer should provide urgent firmware updates with proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms for the PROXY_HTTP_PORT variable. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all network security appliances, implement strict access controls, and establish monitoring procedures for anomalous system behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices such as input validation, privilege separation, and defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for network security appliances.