External risk intelligence

Sophos Firewall SQL Injection Leads to Remote Code Execution.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2020-12271

A SQL injection vulnerability in Sophos SFOS affects devices with exposed administrative or user portal services. This flaw may enable attackers to execute remote code, leading to the exfiltration of usernames and hashed passwords for local and remote access accounts. The business risk involves unauthorized access to s

5Halo Surface Signal

SQL Injection

Sophos Sfos

17.017.117.518.0

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2020-12271

The vulnerability affects Sophos XG Firewall devices when the administration HTTPS service or the User Portal is exposed on the WAN zone. These services are commonly deployed as public-facing gateways or management portals, and their configuration to be reachable from the internet is a standard, intentional deployment pattern for this class of edge security appliance.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A SQL injection vulnerability exists in Sophos SFOS. This flaw can allow attackers to execute code remotely on affected systems. The potential impact includes the unauthorized access and exfiltration of usernames and hashed passwords.

  • Vulnerable Sophos SFOS
  • SQL injection flaw
  • Data exfiltration and code execution

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information by exploiting a SQL injection flaw. The attack requires specific network configurations where administrative services or user portals are exposed externally. Successful exploitation may lead to the exfiltration of user credentials, potentially enabling further compromise of the affected systems.

  • External access to admin services.
  • Attacker injects malicious SQL code.
  • Control and data exfiltration result.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A SQL injection vulnerability was identified in Sophos XG Firewall devices that allowed for remote code execution. Successful exploitation could lead to the exfiltration of usernames and hashed passwords. This vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild.

  • Attacker skill level: Low
  • Required access or conditions: Publicly exposed administration or User Portal
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This critical vulnerability impacts Sophos XG Firewall devices configured with the administration or User Portal service exposed on the WAN zone. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, potentially exfiltrating local administrative and user credentials. Organizations should prioritize addressing this risk to protect sensitive data and maintain system integrity.

  • Find exposed firewall assets.
  • Isolate or restrict access.
  • Apply vendor fixes and validate.
  • Monitor for related activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sophos SFOS and what is its primary function in network security?

Sophos SFOS, also known as Sophos XG Firewall, is a network security operating system. It is used to protect devices and networks from cyber threats by acting as a firewall, intrusion prevention system, and VPN gateway. This helps organizations secure their internet access and internal resources.

What type of weakness does CVE-2020-12271 represent and how does it affect Sophos SFOS?

CVE-2020-12271 is a SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89). This means an attacker can manipulate database queries. In Sophos SFOS, this flaw can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device and steal usernames and hashed passwords.

What specific network configurations make Sophos SFOS vulnerable to CVE-2020-12271?

The vulnerability affects Sophos SFOS versions 17.0, 17.1, 17.5, and 18.0 prior to April 25, 2020, when these devices are configured with either the administration (HTTPS) service or the User Portal exposed on the WAN zone. This external exposure is a common setup for internet-facing security appliances.

What is the significance of CVE-2020-12271 for Sophos XG Firewall security?

This SQL injection vulnerability in Sophos SFOS, exploited in the wild in April 2020, poses a critical risk. It can enable remote code execution, allowing attackers to exfiltrate sensitive data like usernames and hashed passwords for local device admins, portal admins, and remote access users.

What steps should be taken to respond to the CVE-2020-12271 vulnerability in Sophos SFOS?

Organizations should identify exposed Sophos firewall assets, isolate or restrict access to them if possible, and promptly apply vendor-provided fixes. After patching, validate the remediation and monitor for any related suspicious activity to maintain system integrity and protect sensitive data.

References

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)

Sources: threatActor