Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2014-4693 is a cross-site scripting issue in the Snort package for pfSense. If affected management pages are reachable, an attacker could inject script or HTML into the pfSense web interface. The main business risk is compromise of administrator browser sessions or misleading admin actions, not direct firewall packet processing compromise.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted administrative-interface risk. Patch or constrain access during regular maintenance unless management interfaces are exposed to untrusted users, in which case prioritize faster remediation.
Technical view
The CVE describes multiple XSS flaws in the pfSense Snort package before 3.0.13, affecting pfSense through 2.1.4. One vector involves the eng parameter in snort_import_aliases.php; another involves unspecified variables in snort_select_alias.php. The source bundle provides no CVSS score, CWE, or detailed exploitability constraints.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to pfSense systems through 2.1.4 running the Snort package before 3.0.13, especially where the pfSense web configurator is reachable by untrusted users or networks.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVE states remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML, but does not provide prerequisites, authentication requirements, or real-world exploitation evidence.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: the CVE names affected files and one parameter but lacks CVSS, CWE, authentication context, and detailed vendor mitigation text in the supplied bundle. Do not assume active exploitation or broader pfSense impact beyond the Snort package versions described.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade the pfSense Snort package to 3.0.13 or later.
- Review the pfSense advisory for vendor-specific remediation guidance.
- Restrict pfSense web configurator access to trusted administrative networks only.
- Remove or disable the Snort package if it is unused.
- Prioritize systems where management access is internet-facing or broadly reachable.
Validation and detection
- Inventory pfSense systems and identify versions through 2.1.4.
- Check whether the Snort package is installed and below 3.0.13.
- Confirm pfSense management interfaces are not exposed to untrusted networks.
- Review administrative access logs for suspicious web configurator activity.
- Verify remediation by confirming the updated Snort package version.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2014-4693 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://pfsense.org/security/advisories/pfSense-SA-14_13.packages.ascCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.