1. Introduction
This plugin performs application protocol detection for amap (NASL wrapper). It identifies applications running on open ports of a remote host, which can help identify potential vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. This affects network devices like servers and routers that expose services to the network. A successful identification could lead to information disclosure or further exploitation attempts.
2. Technical Explanation
The amap plugin runs an application protocol detection scan on the remote host, identifying open ports and associated applications. There is no direct exploit path with this vulnerability; it’s a discovery tool. However, identified services may be vulnerable to exploitation. The plugin relies on accurate protocol identification by the amap tool itself.
- Root cause: The plugin uses the amap application to identify open ports and protocols.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker could use the information gathered by this plugin to target specific services running on identified ports with known exploits.
- Scope: Any network device or server that exposes services to a network connection.
3. Detection and Assessment
To confirm if amap is being used, check for the presence of the amap tool and its associated configuration files. A thorough method involves running the plugin itself and reviewing the output.
- Quick checks: Check for the existence of the `amap` executable in common installation directories (e.g., `/usr/bin/amap`).
- Scanning: Nessus or other vulnerability scanners may report results from this plugin directly.
- Logs and evidence: Review scan logs for entries related to amap protocol detection.
# Example command placeholder:
which amap
4. Solution / Remediation Steps
The primary remediation step is to ensure that all identified services are patched and properly configured. Regularly review the output of this plugin to identify potential vulnerabilities.
4.1 Preparation
- Backups: No specific backups are required for running this plugin, but regular system backups are always recommended.
- Dependencies: Ensure Nessus or a similar vulnerability scanner is installed and configured correctly. A roll back plan involves stopping the scan if unexpected issues occur.
- Change window: No change window is specifically needed to run this plugin.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Run the amap plugin through your vulnerability scanner (e.g., Nessus).
- Step 2: Review the output of the scan for identified services and their versions.
- Step 3: Patch or update any vulnerable services identified in the scan results.
4.3 Config or Code Example
There is no configuration change needed to run this plugin, but reviewing the identified service configurations is important.
Before
# No config example - review existing service configs for vulnerabilitiesAfter
# Update vulnerable service configurations based on scan results. For example, ensure TLS 1.3 is enabled.4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
- Patch cadence: Regularly patching identified services reduces the risk of exploitation.
- Least privilege: Running services with least privilege limits the impact of a successful exploit.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
Automating patch management can help address vulnerabilities identified by this plugin.
# Example PowerShell snippet for checking service status:
Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -like "*vulnerable_service*"} | Select-Object Name, Status
5. Verification / Validation
Confirm the fix by re-running the amap plugin and verifying that no vulnerable services are reported. Perform a smoke test to ensure key services still function correctly.
- Post-fix check: Run the amap plugin again and confirm that identified vulnerabilities have been resolved.
- Re-test: Re-run the scan to verify that the vulnerability is no longer detected.
- Smoke test: Test key functionality of the updated services (e.g., web access, database connection).
# Post-fix command and expected output:
nessuscli scan --report-format html --output amap_post_fix.html #Verify no vulnerable services are reported in the HTML report.
6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Regularly updating security baselines and incorporating checks into CI/CD pipelines can prevent similar issues from occurring.
- Baselines: Update security baselines to include current patch levels for identified services.
- Pipelines: Add vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., SAST, DAST) to CI/CD pipelines.
- Asset and patch process: Implement a regular patch review cycle based on the risk assessment of identified services.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
Potential risks include service disruption during patching or unexpected compatibility issues. Roll back steps involve restoring previous configurations or reverting to older versions.
- Risk or side effect 1: Service downtime during patching. Mitigation: Schedule patches during off-peak hours and have a roll back plan in place.
- Roll back: Revert to the previous service configuration or version if issues occur.
8. References and Resources
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: http://www.thc.org/thc-amap/