Clientless SSL VPN products break web browser domain-based security models (CVE-2009-2631)
Published Sources: CVE.org
What is affected, what to do
Multiple clientless SSL VPN products that run in web browsers, including Stonesoft StoneGate; Cisco ASA; SonicWALL E-Class SSL VPN and SonicWALL SSL VPN; SafeNet SecureWire Access Gateway; Juniper Networks Secure Access; Nortel CallPilot; Citrix Access Gateway; and other products, when running in configurations that do not restrict access to the same domain as the VPN, retrieve the content of remote URLs from one domain and rewrite them so they originate from the VPN's domain, which violates the same origin policy and allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting attacks, read cookies that originated from other domains, access the Web VPN session to gain access to internal resources, perform key logging, and conduct other attacks. NOTE: it could be argued that this is a fundamental design problem in any clientless VPN solution, as opposed to a commonly-introduced error that can be fixed in separate implementations.
The available sources name no fixed version. Check the vendor guidance in the references below.
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Metrics
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Priority
No value is available for this vulnerability.
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CVSS v3
No value is available for this vulnerability.
4.8 %
EPSS score
Moderate — model estimates 1-10% exploitation likelihood.
Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 92.0
Show all metrics
- Severity
- Not rated
Priority (0–325)
The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?
Read in glossary- 67.65 Methodology
Exploit maturity
An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.
Read in glossary- no public PoC known
EPSS score
The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.
Read in glossary- 4.8 %
- Moderate — model estimates 1-10% exploitation likelihood.
EPSS percentile
The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.
Read in glossary- 92.0
- Critical — this CVE ranks in the top fifth of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 80%).
KEV status
The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.
Read in glossary- —
- Published
CWE
CWE is a catalogue of typical weakness types in software and hardware — such as flawed input validation, unsafe memory handling or poor authentication. Where a CVE names a concrete vulnerability in a concrete product, a CWE describes the underlying class of defect.
Read in glossary- CWE-284
Detection rules
No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.
Classification under NIS2 and CRA
Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.
NIS2
NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.
Read in glossary- Handle the vulnerability in regular vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2.
CRA
The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.
Read in glossary- From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
ISO/IEC 27001
ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.
Read in glossary- Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.
Description
Multiple clientless SSL VPN products that run in web browsers, including Stonesoft StoneGate; Cisco ASA; SonicWALL E-Class SSL VPN and SonicWALL SSL VPN; SafeNet SecureWire Access Gateway; Juniper Networks Secure Access; Nortel CallPilot; Citrix Access Gateway; and other products, when running in configurations that do not restrict access to the same domain as the VPN, retrieve the content of remote URLs from one domain and rewrite them so they originate from the VPN's domain, which violates the same origin policy and allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting attacks, read cookies that originated from other domains, access the Web VPN session to gain access to internal resources, perform key logging, and conduct other attacks. NOTE: it could be argued that this is a fundamental design problem in any clientless VPN solution, as opposed to a commonly-introduced error that can be fixed in separate implementations. Therefore a single CVE has been assigned for all products that have this design
Source: NVD (NIST), cvelistv5
Affected products
The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.
| Affected versions | Fixed in | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| aladdin | safenet_securewire_access_gateway |
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| cisco | adaptive_security_appliance |
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| sonicwall | e-class_ssl_vpn |
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| sonicwall | ssl_vpn |
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| stonesoft | stonegate |
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Vendors and products
Weakness classes (CWE)
CWE-284Improper Access Control
Pillar
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
Entry at MITRE CWE-284
References & sources
- kb.cert.orgCERT/CC Advisory
- security.paloaltonetworks.comVendor-Advisory
- secunia.com37786Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- www116.nortel.compub/repository/CLARIFY/DOCUMENT/2009/50/025367-01.pdfx_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred
- securityfocus.com20091202 Same-origin policy bypass vulnerabilities in several VPN products reportedMailing list, x_refsource_BUGTRAQ, x_transferred
- support.nortel.comgo/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&DocumentOID=984744x_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred
- kb.cert.orgVU#261869Third-party advisory, x_refsource_CERT-VN, x_transferred, US government resource
- securityfocus.com37152Vulnerability database, x_refsource_BID, x_transferred
- stonesoft.comen/support/security_advisories/2009_03_12.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- vupen.comADV-2009-3569Vulnerability database, x_refsource_VUPEN, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- seclists.org20060608 SSL VPNs and securityMailing list, x_refsource_FULLDISC, x_transferred
- securitytracker.com1023255Vulnerability database, x_refsource_SECTRACK, x_transferred
- vupen.comADV-2009-3571Vulnerability database, x_refsource_VUPEN, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- seclists.org20060609 Re: SSL VPNs and securityMailing list, x_refsource_FULLDISC, x_transferred
- secunia.com37788Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- secunia.com37696Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- sonicwall.comus/2123_14882.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- sonicwall.comus/2123_14883.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- vupen.comADV-2009-3570Vulnerability database, x_refsource_VUPEN, x_transferred, Vendor advisory
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.comsslvpn-sameorigin-security-bypass(54523)Vulnerability database, x_refsource_XF, x_transferred
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<a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2009-2631"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2009-2631.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2009-2631 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>