CVE-2001-1425 in Speed Touch Home
Summary
by MITRE
The challenge-response authentication of the EXPERT user for Alcatel Speed Touch running firmware KHDSAA.108 and KHDSAA.132 through KHDSAA.134 allows remote attackers to gain privileges by directly computing the response based on information that is provided by the device during login.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1425 represents a critical flaw in the authentication mechanism of Alcatel Speed Touch devices running specific firmware versions. This issue affects the EXPERT user account and stems from a fundamental weakness in the challenge-response authentication protocol implementation. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to escalate privileges by directly computing authentication responses without requiring legitimate credentials or access to the system's internal authentication processes.
The technical flaw lies in the predictable nature of the challenge-response mechanism within the firmware versions KHDSAA.108 and KHDSAA.132 through KHDSAA.134. During the login process, the device provides certain information that can be exploited to calculate the correct response values. This weakness directly maps to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues and improper use of cryptographic primitives. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in implementing proper randomization and secure cryptographic functions within the authentication protocol, making it susceptible to precomputation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows unauthorized remote access to administrative functions of the Speed Touch devices. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain full administrative privileges without needing to know passwords or having physical access to the device. This creates a significant risk for network administrators who rely on these devices for internet connectivity and network management. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network services as attackers can potentially modify device configurations, monitor network traffic, or disrupt services entirely.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates entirely over the network without requiring any local access or complex exploitation techniques. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage and privilege escalation. The vulnerability creates an entry point that allows adversaries to move laterally within networks where these devices are deployed, potentially compromising larger network infrastructures. Organizations using affected Alcatel Speed Touch devices face immediate security risks and should implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates, network segmentation, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware upgrades to versions that address the challenge-response implementation weakness. Network administrators should also implement strict access controls and monitoring of authentication attempts to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure cryptographic implementation in embedded network devices and serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper authentication protocol design in network infrastructure equipment.