Cisco Secure Desktop Vulnerability (March 31, 2011)
Cisco Secure Desktop (CSD) is a multipurpose client-side VPN software. It seeks to minimize the risk of information being left after an SSL VPN session terminates. CSD’s goal is to reduce the possibility that cookies, browser history, temporary files, and downloaded content remain on a system after a remote user logs out or an SSL VPN session times out.
CSDWebInstaller is an ActiveX component of CSD that allows the download and installation of any executable that is digitally-signed by Cisco. A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Cisco Secure Desktop. Specifically, the vulnerability is due to design error in CSDWebInstaller ActiveX control, which allows bypassing the validation of digital signature. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by enticing a user to visit a crafted web page, which tries to instantiate the vulnerable ActiveX control and downloads malicious executable. Successful exploitation would allow for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged in user. The vulnerability has been assigned as CVE-2011-0926. SonicWALL has released an IPS signature to detect and block known exploits targeting this vulnerability. The following signature was released to address this issue:- 6399 – Cisco Secure Desktop CSDWebInstaller ActiveX Control Instantiation
The SonicWall Capture Labs Threat Research Team gathers, analyzes and vets cross-vector threat information from the SonicWall Capture Threat network, consisting of global devices and resources, including more than 1 million security sensors in nearly 200 countries and territories. The research team identifies, analyzes, and mitigates critical vulnerabilities and malware daily through in-depth research, which drives protection for all SonicWall customers. In addition to safeguarding networks globally, the research team supports the larger threat intelligence community by releasing weekly deep technical analyses of the most critical threats to small businesses, providing critical knowledge that defenders need to protect their networks.
