CVE-2020-7336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in McAfee Network Security Management (NSM) versions prior to 10.1.7.35 and 9.2.9.55 allows attackers to manipulate the Network Security Manager's configuration.

Understanding CVE-2020-7336

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in McAfee's Network Security Management (NSM) software that could be exploited by attackers to alter the Network Security Manager's settings through a specifically crafted HTTP request.

What is CVE-2020-7336?

CVE-2020-7336 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability found in McAfee Network Security Management (NSM) versions before 10.1.7.35 and 9.2.9.55. This flaw enables malicious actors to modify the Network Security Manager's configuration using a well-crafted HTTP request.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7336

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 6.6. If exploited, attackers can potentially manipulate the Network Security Manager's settings, leading to a high impact on availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7336

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to perform Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks on vulnerable versions of McAfee Network Security Management, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Network Security Management (NSM)
Vendor: McAfee
Affected Versions:
NSM 10.x versions prior to 10.1.7.35
NSM 9.x versions prior to 9.2.9.55

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a carefully crafted HTTP request to the affected NSM instances, tricking users into unknowingly changing the Network Security Manager's configuration.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-7336 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update McAfee NSM to versions 10.1.7.35 or 9.2.9.55 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an ongoing CSRF attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement CSRF tokens in web applications to prevent CSRF attacks.
Regularly update and patch all software to address security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches and updates provided by McAfee to ensure the security of Network Security Management.