CVE-2002-1949 in NAS
Summary
by MITRE
The Network Attached Storage (NAS) Administration Web Page for Iomega NAS A300U transmits passwords in cleartext, which allows remote attackers to sniff the administrative password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1949 represents a critical security flaw in the Iomega NAS A300U network attached storage device that fundamentally undermines the confidentiality of administrative credentials. This issue manifests through the improper handling of authentication data during web-based administration sessions, where passwords are transmitted without any form of encryption or obfuscation. The vulnerability exists within the web administration interface of the device, which serves as the primary means for system administrators to configure and manage the NAS functionality. When administrators access the web-based management console to perform administrative tasks, their credentials are sent across the network in plain text format, making them immediately susceptible to interception by malicious actors who have access to the network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of secure communication protocols within the web server component of the Iomega NAS A300U. The device fails to implement proper encryption mechanisms such as SSL/TLS for securing the transmission of sensitive data, particularly authentication credentials. This flaw aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission, and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic practices in networked devices. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative interface, which typically requires elevated privileges and provides access to critical system functions including user management, configuration changes, and data access controls. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage standard packet sniffing tools to capture network traffic and extract administrative passwords from the cleartext transmissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1949 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with unauthorized administrative access to the entire network attached storage system. Once an attacker successfully intercepts the administrative password through network sniffing, they gain complete control over the NAS device, including the ability to modify user accounts, alter system configurations, access stored data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network. This vulnerability directly maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage the stolen credentials to maintain access to the compromised system. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects the web-based management interface, which is typically accessible from various network locations, including potentially unsecured wireless networks or public internet connections, making the device particularly vulnerable in environments where network security is insufficient.
Organizations deploying Iomega NAS A300U devices face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where network traffic is not properly secured or monitored. The remediation approach requires immediate implementation of network segmentation and traffic encryption to prevent unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. The most effective mitigation strategy involves enforcing the use of encrypted communication channels such as HTTPS with proper SSL/TLS implementation for all administrative access, which directly addresses the underlying weakness in the device's protocol handling. Additionally, network administrators should implement network monitoring solutions capable of detecting and alerting on cleartext credential transmission, and consider disabling the web-based administration interface entirely when it is not actively required. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure communication practices in networked storage devices and highlights the necessity of implementing proper cryptographic controls even in embedded systems where resource constraints might be a concern. The issue also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify such weaknesses in legacy network infrastructure components that may not receive ongoing security updates from vendors.