Sophos Firewall: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CVE-2023-5552 is a high-severity insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability in Sophos Firewall from Sophos, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.55% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Sophos Firewall you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on sophos.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophos | Sophos Firewall | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Sophos | Firewall | 19.5.3 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | CNA (sophos.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
A password disclosure vulnerability in the Secure PDF eXchange (SPX) feature allows attackers with full email access to decrypt PDFs in Sophos Firewall version 19.5 MR3 (19.5.3) and older, if the password type is set to “Specified by sender”.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an appropriate security mechanism to protect the credentials.
- Make appropriate use of cryptography to protect the credentials.
- Use industry standards to protect the credentials (e.g. LDAP, keystore, etc.).
More Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities (CWE-522)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Sophos Firewall
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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