You know, it kind of bothers me that all of these articles claim the issue is in the HTTP security server as well as the AI component and that an exploit has been developed, yet the Check Point article says it's "theoretical" and only affects the security servers.
I wonder who is correct?
Ray Pesek, CISSP
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: Mailing list for discussion of Firewall-1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [FW-1] HTTP Parsing Vulnerabilities in Check Point Firewall-1 Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 18:50:18 EST
HTTP Parsing Vulnerabilities in Check Point Firewall-1
Original release date: February 05, 2004 Last revised: -- Source: US-CERT
A complete revision history can be found at the end of this file.
Systems Affected
* Check Point Firewall-1 NG FCS * Check Point Firewall-1 NG FP1 * Check Point Firewall-1 NG FP2 * Check Point Firewall-1 NG FP3, HF2 * Check Point Firewall-1 NG with Application Intelligence R54 * Check Point Firewall-1 NG with Application Intelligence R55
Overview
Several versions of Check Point Firewall-1 contain a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges. This allows the attacker to take control of the firewall, and in some cases, to also control the server it runs on.
I. Description
The Application Intelligence (AI) component of Check Point Firewall-1 is an application proxy that scans traffic for application layer attacks once it has passed through the firewall at the network level. Earlier versions of Firewall-1 include the HTTP Security Server, which provides similar functionality.
Both the AI and HTTP Security Server features contain an HTTP parsing vulnerability that is triggered by sending an invalid HTTP request through the firewall. When Firewall-1 generates an error message in response to the invalid request, a portion of the input supplied by the attacker is included in the format string for a call to sprintf().
Researchers at Internet Security Systems have determined that it is possible to exploit this format string vulnerability to execute commands on the firewall. The researchers have also determined that this vulnerability can be exploited as a heap overflow, which would allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code. In either case, the commands or code executed by the attacker would run with administrative privileges, typically "SYSTEM" or "root". For more information, please see the ISS advisory at:
http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/alerts/id/162
The CERT/CC is tracking this issue as VU#790771. This reference number corresponds to CVE candidate CAN-2004-0039.
II. Impact
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected firewalls with administrative privileges, typically "SYSTEM" or "root". Failed attempts to exploit this vulnerability may cause the firewall to crash.
III. Solution
Apply the patch from Check Point
Check Point has published a "Firewall-1 HTTP Security Server Update" that modifies the error return strings used when an invalid HTTP request is detected. For more information, please see the Check Point bulletin at:
http://www.checkpoint.com/techsupport/alerts/security_server.html
This update prevents attackers from using several known error strings to exploit this vulnerability. It is unclear at this time whether there are other attack vectors that may still allow exploitation of the underlying software defect.
Disable the affected components
Check Point has reported that their products are only affected by this vulnerability if the HTTP Security Servers feature is enabled. Therefore, affected sites may be able to limit their exposure to this vulnerability by disabling HTTP Security Servers or the Application Intelligence component, as appropriate. _________________________________________________________________
This vulnerability was discovered and researched by Mark Dowd of ISS X-Force. _________________________________________________________________
This document was written by Jeffrey P. Lanza. _________________________________________________________________
This document is available from: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-036A.html _________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2004 Carnegie Mellon University.
Revision History Feb 05, 2004: Initial release
================================================= To set vacation, Out-Of-Office, or away messages, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] in the BODY of the email add: set fw-1-mailinglist nomail ================================================= To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please see the instructions at http://www.checkpoint.com/services/mailing.html ================================================= If you have any questions on how to change your subscription options, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] =================================================
_________________________________________________________________ Check out the great features of the new MSN 9 Dial-up, with the MSN Dial-up Accelerator. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/
================================================= To set vacation, Out-Of-Office, or away messages, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] in the BODY of the email add: set fw-1-mailinglist nomail ================================================= To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please see the instructions at http://www.checkpoint.com/services/mailing.html ================================================= If you have any questions on how to change your subscription options, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] =================================================
