SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab Security Advisory < 20120328-0 >
=======================================================================
              title: Unauthenticated remote root through SQL injection
            product: F5 FirePass SSL VPN
 vulnerable version: 6.0.0 - 6.1.0, 7.0.0
      fixed version: 6.1.0 HF-377712-1 / 7.0.0 HF-377712-1
         CVE number: CVE-2012-1777
             impact: critical
           homepage: http://www.f5.com
              found: 2012-02-03
                 by: Christoph Schwarz / SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab
                     https://www.sec-consult.com
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Vendor/product description:
-----------------------------
"The FirePass SSL VPN" available as an appliance and in a Virtual
Edition—provide security, flexibility, and ease of use. It grants
access to corporate applications using a technology that everyone
understands: a web browser.  Users can have secure access from anywhere
they have an Internet connection, while FirePass ensures that connected
computers are fully patched and protected."

"FirePass provides robust, secure SSL VPN remote access to business
applications from a wide range of client devices, including Apple
iPhone and Windows Mobile devices.  Using full-tunnel SSL technology
and client access policies defined by system administrators, remote
clients can log on to corporate business applications under pre-defined
access permissions and client directory control."

URL: http://www.f5.com/products/firepass/


Vulnerability overview/description:
-----------------------------------
Due to insufficient input validation within the software, an
unauthenticated attacker can escalate a critical SQL injection
vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands in the context of the
administrative super user ("root"). The flaw exists in the
my.activation.php3 script in the parameter "state".


Proof of concept:
-----------------
As the MySQL database runs as root with FILE privileges enabled, an
attacker can read/write arbitrary files on the target filesystem.

The following payload reads the first character of the /etc/passwd file
('r' for "root"):

state=%2527+and+
(case+when+SUBSTRING(LOAD_FILE(%2527/etc/passwd%2527),1,1)=char(114)+then+
BENCHMARK(40000000,ENCODE(%2527hello%2527,%2527batman%2527))+else+0+end)=0+--+

With MySQL's "into outfile" a simple PHP webshell can be deployed on the
vulnerable system.  Due to severe configuration issues in the
underlying Linux system an attacker can elevate his rights to "root" as
no password is set in the /etc/sudoers file. As a proof of concept the
password file /etc/shadow could be accessed. 

An exploit code exists but will not be made public.


Vulnerable / tested versions:
-----------------------------
The vulnerability has been verified to exist in the FirePass SSL VPN,
versions 6.0.0 - 6.1.0 and version 7.0.0, which was the most recent
version at the time of discovery.


Vendor contact timeline:
------------------------
2012-02-03: Contacting F5 security team via email
2012-02-03: Immediate reply
2012-02-06: Sent exploit description
2012-03-05: F5 status update
2012-03-14: F5 releases hotfix
2012-03-28: Public release of SEC Consult advisory


Solution:
---------
To patch a FirePass 6.1 system, first make sure that HotFix_610-7 is
installed and then install HF-377712-1. To patch a FirePass 7.0 system,
first install HotFix_70-5 and then install HF-377712-1. For detailed
instructions on how to obtain and apply the patch, refer to the vendor:

URL:
http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/13000/400/sol13463.html


Workaround:
-----------
No workaround available.


Advisory URL:
--------------
https://www.sec-consult.com/en/advisories.html


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Tel.: +43 / 1 / 890 30 43 - 0
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Mail: research at sec-consult dot com
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SGT ::: avi, mei, ben!
EOF C. Schwarz / @2012