CVE-2017-11196 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Pulse Connect Secure 8.3R1 logout feature is vulnerable to CSRF attacks due to the absence of CSRF tokens, allowing attackers to log out users involuntarily.

Understanding CVE-2017-11196

The logout functionality in Pulse Connect Secure 8.3R1 is susceptible to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, posing a security risk to user sessions.

What is CVE-2017-11196?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the logout.cgi component of Pulse Connect Secure 8.3R1, where the lack of CSRF tokens exposes the logout function in the admin panel to exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2017-11196

The vulnerability enables attackers to force users to log out of the system by tricking them into visiting a malicious webpage, potentially disrupting user sessions and compromising system security.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-11196

Pulse Connect Secure 8.3R1 logout.cgi vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The logout.cgi component in Pulse Connect Secure 8.3R1 lacks CSRF tokens, allowing attackers to perform CSRF attacks and log users out of the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the absence of CSRF tokens in the logout function by directing users to malicious websites, triggering involuntary logouts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2017-11196 through immediate and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement CSRF tokens to secure the logout functionality.
Educate users about the risks of clicking on unknown links.
Monitor system logs for unusual logout activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Pulse Connect Secure to the latest version.
Conduct security training for administrators and users on CSRF prevention.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Pulse Secure to address the CSRF vulnerability in logout.cgi.