CVE-2001-0484 in Phaserlink
Summary
by MITRE
Tektronix PhaserLink 850 does not require authentication for access to configuration pages such as _ncl_subjects.shtml and _ncl_items.shtml, which allows remote attackers to modify configuration information and cause a denial of service by accessing the pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0484 affects the Tektronix PhaserLink 850 network printer device, representing a critical security flaw in the device's authentication mechanisms. This weakness stems from the device's failure to implement proper access controls for its configuration interfaces, specifically targeting pages such as _ncl_subjects.shtml and _ncl_items.shtml. The absence of authentication requirements creates an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized remote actors to gain access to sensitive administrative functions without any credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the device's web-based management interface design, where configuration pages are accessible through standard http protocols without requiring user authentication. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of access control and privilege management. The affected pages are part of the device's network configuration interface, which typically handles critical settings including network parameters, user access controls, and system configuration data. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by simply navigating to the specific URLs without any authentication prompts, thereby gaining unrestricted access to modify configuration parameters.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security and availability. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to modify critical system configurations, potentially leading to complete system compromise or denial of service conditions. The ability to modify configuration information without authentication creates opportunities for attackers to redirect network traffic, alter access controls, or disable essential services. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on network printers for business operations, as it allows attackers to disrupt printing services or gain unauthorized access to network resources through the compromised device.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and represents a classic example of insufficient authentication mechanisms in networked devices. From an attack framework perspective, this weakness maps to several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can modify system configurations to maintain persistent access or hide their activities. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses, as the lack of authentication mechanisms represents a failure to implement proper security controls for network communications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate the affected device from critical network segments, deployment of network access control lists to restrict access to the device's management interfaces, and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked devices. The most effective long-term solution involves updating the device firmware to a version that implements proper authentication mechanisms for all configuration pages, ensuring that access to administrative interfaces requires valid credentials before any configuration changes can be made. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to device management interfaces, which could help identify exploitation attempts before they result in significant damage.