1. Introduction
The VMware Workspace ONE Assist Web Portal has been detected on a remote host. This means the web interface used for managing Workspace ONE Assist is accessible. While not directly exploitable, its presence indicates a potential attack surface and requires review to ensure appropriate security measures are in place. A successful compromise of this portal could allow an attacker to gain access to sensitive information or control over managed devices.
2. Technical Explanation
The web portal for VMware Workspace ONE Assist provides a management interface for the service. Its detection suggests it is running and potentially accessible from outside the intended network. There is no known CVE associated with simply having the portal present, but its accessibility increases risk. An attacker could attempt to brute-force credentials or exploit vulnerabilities in the web application itself if they exist. Affected systems are those running VMware Workspace ONE Assist.
- Root cause: The web portal is installed and accessible on the network.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker attempts to access the portal, potentially using default credentials or attempting to exploit known vulnerabilities in the web application.
- Scope: Systems running VMware Workspace ONE Assist are affected.
3. Detection and Assessment
Confirming the presence of the web portal is the primary assessment step. This can be done with a simple network check or by examining the system configuration.
- Quick checks: Access the default URL for the Workspace ONE Assist Web Portal in a browser.
- Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 168297 may detect this service, but results should be verified manually.
- Logs and evidence: Check web server logs (e.g., Apache or IIS) for requests to the Workspace ONE Assist portal URL.
ping 4. Solution / Remediation Steps
The following steps outline how to review and secure access to the VMware Workspace ONE Assist Web Portal.
4.1 Preparation
- No services need to be stopped for this review, but document current configuration settings. A roll back plan involves restoring from the snapshot if issues occur.
- Changes should be reviewed and approved by the IT Security team.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Verify that access to the web portal is restricted to authorized IP addresses using firewall rules.
- Step 2: Ensure strong, unique passwords are used for all user accounts accessing the web portal.
- Step 3: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) if available and supported by your Workspace ONE Assist configuration.
4.3 Config or Code Example
Before
# Firewall rule allowing access from any source IP address
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
After
# Firewall rule restricting access to authorized IP addresses only
iptables -A INPUT -s /32 -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
Several security practices can help mitigate the risks associated with this detection.
- Practice 1: Least privilege – limit access to the web portal to only those users who require it.
- Practice 2: Network segmentation – isolate the Workspace ONE Assist server on a separate network segment.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
Automation is not directly applicable for this detection, as it focuses on configuration review and access control.
5. Verification / Validation
Confirm that the remediation steps have been implemented correctly by verifying firewall rules and user account security settings.
- Post-fix check: Verify that only authorized IP addresses can access the web portal using a network scan or browser test from an unauthorized location.
- Re-test: Re-run the initial quick check to confirm that access is restricted as expected.
- Smoke test: Confirm that authorized users can still log in and manage devices through the web portal.
- Monitoring: Monitor firewall logs for any attempts to access the web portal from unauthorized IP addresses.
ping -c 1 # Should fail if access is restricted 6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Regular security assessments and policy enforcement can help prevent similar issues in the future.
- Baselines: Update a security baseline to include requirements for restricting access to management interfaces like the Workspace ONE Assist Web Portal.
- Pipelines: Include checks in deployment pipelines to ensure that default configurations are not used and that appropriate firewall rules are in place.
- Asset and patch process: Implement a regular review cycle for asset inventory and configuration settings.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
Incorrectly configured firewall rules could block legitimate access to the web portal.
- Risk or side effect 1: Blocking legitimate user access – ensure that authorized IP addresses are correctly configured in the firewall rules.
- Roll back: Restore from the snapshot taken prior to making any changes, or revert the firewall rule configuration.
8. References and Resources
Links only to sources that match this exact vulnerability.
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: https://www.vmware.com/products/workspace-one/workspaceone-assist.html