CVE-2010-2968 in VxWorks
Summary
by MITRE
The FTP daemon in Wind River VxWorks does not close the TCP connection after a number of failed login attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2968 affects the FTP daemon implementation within Wind River VxWorks operating systems, representing a significant security weakness that directly impacts authentication mechanisms. This flaw manifests in the daemon's failure to properly terminate TCP connections following multiple unsuccessful login attempts, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the system's resistance to automated attack vectors. The issue stems from inadequate connection management protocols within the embedded FTP service, which violates fundamental security principles governing access control and authentication enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the connection handling logic of the VxWorks FTP daemon where the system maintains active TCP connections even after authentication failures. This behavior creates a persistent attack surface that allows malicious actors to repeatedly attempt login credentials without the system enforcing connection limits or implementing proper rate limiting mechanisms. The daemon's design does not incorporate automatic connection termination following predefined failed attempt thresholds, which is a standard security practice to prevent brute-force attacks. This weakness aligns with CWE-307, which addresses improper restriction of repeated authentication attempts, and demonstrates a failure to implement proper account lockout or connection limiting measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential guessing attacks, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of embedded systems running VxWorks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct systematic brute-force campaigns against FTP services, potentially gaining unauthorized access to critical embedded infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems where VxWorks serves as the underlying operating system for industrial control systems, network equipment, and other embedded devices that rely on FTP for file transfer operations. This creates risk across multiple sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure where such embedded systems are prevalent. The attack vector requires only network connectivity to the affected system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security controls may be limited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2968 should focus on implementing connection limiting mechanisms and proper authentication enforcement within the VxWorks FTP daemon configuration. Organizations should consider disabling FTP services where possible and implementing alternative secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS. Network-level protections including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can help limit the effectiveness of brute-force attacks by restricting access based on source IP addresses and implementing connection rate limiting. The implementation of proper account lockout policies and automatic connection termination after failed attempts should be enforced through system configuration changes or firmware updates. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to security best practices in embedded system design and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network services in resource-constrained environments. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1110 which covers credential access through brute force methods, emphasizing the need for robust authentication controls in all system components.