CVE-2006-4744 in Abidia Wireless
Summary
by MITRE
Abidia (1) O-Anywhere and (2) Abidia Wireless transmit authentication credentials in cleartext, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4744 represents a critical security flaw in wireless authentication systems manufactured by Abidia, specifically affecting their O-Anywhere and Abidia Wireless products. This issue stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials during network communication, where sensitive information is transmitted without encryption. The flaw creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to capture and analyze network traffic using packet sniffing techniques, thereby gaining unauthorized access to authentication data that should remain protected.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the network protocol level where authentication mechanisms fail to employ proper encryption or authentication protocols. The systems in question transmit usernames, passwords, and potentially other sensitive credentials in plain text format over wireless networks, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors positioned within the network's radio frequency range. The absence of transport layer security measures such as TLS or SSL encryption creates a fundamental weakness that violates basic security principles for protecting sensitive data in transit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on these wireless authentication systems. Remote attackers can easily capture authentication credentials using readily available network monitoring tools, enabling them to gain unauthorized access to protected networks, systems, and resources. This compromise can lead to complete network infiltration, data theft, and unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability affects both enterprise and consumer deployments where wireless authentication is critical for network security, potentially impacting a wide range of applications including corporate networks, healthcare systems, and industrial control environments. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed from any location within wireless network coverage, making it particularly dangerous.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper encryption protocols and authentication mechanisms. Organizations must immediately deploy network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of credential compromise. The implementation of WPA2-Enterprise or similar robust wireless security protocols with strong authentication mechanisms should be prioritized. Network administrators should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect and alert on suspicious authentication traffic patterns. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage the captured credentials to establish persistent access and potentially expand their attack surface. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar cleartext transmission issues in other network components. The affected vendors should be contacted for firmware updates or replacement of vulnerable hardware to ensure comprehensive protection against this and related security threats.