CVE-2023-30805 is an operating system command injection vulnerability identified in Sangfor's Net-Gen Application Firewall (NGAF) version 8.0.17. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special shell meta-characters within the 'un' parameter processed by the /LogInOut.php endpoint. An attacker can exploit this by sending a crafted HTTP POST request that injects arbitrary OS commands, which the firewall executes with system-level privileges. This vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, making it remotely exploitable over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects its critical nature, with attack vector being network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the firewall device, allowing attackers to manipulate firewall rules, intercept or alter network traffic, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt availability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), a common and dangerous injection flaw. No official patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the risk remains high due to the straightforward exploitation method and critical impact.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to network security and data protection. Sangfor NGAF is often deployed as a perimeter defense or application firewall, protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data. Exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, gain persistent access, and manipulate traffic flows, potentially leading to data breaches, espionage, or ransomware deployment. The criticality is heightened for sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and telecommunications, where firewall compromise can disrupt essential services or expose regulated data. Additionally, the lack of authentication requirement means attackers can target exposed firewall management interfaces directly from the internet. This could lead to widespread exploitation if not mitigated promptly. The impact extends to compliance risks under GDPR and other European data protection regulations due to potential unauthorized data access or leakage.

Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the /LogInOut.php endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN-only access for management interfaces. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or intrusion prevention systems (IPS) with signatures or heuristics to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'un' parameter. Monitor firewall logs for unusual POST requests or command execution patterns. Since no official patch is currently available, consider temporarily disabling or isolating vulnerable NGAF devices from external networks until a vendor patch is released. Engage with Sangfor support for updates and apply patches as soon as they become available. Conduct thorough security audits and penetration tests to identify any signs of compromise. Additionally, implement strict network segmentation to limit the blast radius if exploitation occurs. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans tailored to firewall compromise scenarios.