CVE-2018-12571 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 contains a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to trigger outbound DNS queries for arbitrary hosts, potentially leading to traffic amplification and SSRF.

Understanding CVE-2018-12571

What is CVE-2018-12571?

Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 is vulnerable to a flaw in the uniquesig0/InternalSite/InitParams.aspx component, enabling remote attackers to initiate outbound DNS queries for any host by providing a list of URLs in the orig_url parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12571

This vulnerability may result in traffic amplification and/or a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) situation, posing a risk of unauthorized outbound DNS queries.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12571

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 allows remote attackers to trigger outbound DNS queries for arbitrary hosts by manipulating the orig_url parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers who provide a list of URLs separated by commas in the orig_url parameter, leading to unauthorized outbound DNS queries.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft to address the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to restrict access to critical systems.
Monitor outbound DNS queries for unusual patterns.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft may release security updates or patches to mitigate the vulnerability in Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010.