CVE-2012-1288 in Fire
Summary
by MITRE
The UTC Fire & Security GE-MC100-NTP/GPS-ZB Master Clock device uses hardcoded credentials for an administrative account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via an HTTP session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2024
The CVE-2012-1288 vulnerability affects the UTC Fire & Security GE-MC100-NTP/GPS-ZB Master Clock device, a critical component in time synchronization systems used for security and operational coordination. This device serves as a master clock that synchronizes time across various networked systems, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise network integrity and operational continuity. The vulnerability stems from the device's implementation of hardcoded administrative credentials, a fundamental security flaw that violates established security principles and best practices.
The technical flaw in this device involves the inclusion of fixed username and password combinations within the firmware code itself, rather than implementing dynamic authentication mechanisms. This hardcoded credential approach means that the administrative credentials remain constant across all instances of the device, and the credentials are often disclosed in technical documentation or can be discovered through reverse engineering of the device firmware. When attackers can obtain these hardcoded credentials through simple reconnaissance or by accessing the device via HTTP sessions, they gain unauthorized administrative access to the master clock system. This access allows them to manipulate time settings, potentially causing cascading failures across dependent systems that rely on accurate time synchronization for proper operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as the compromised master clock can cause widespread disruption to networked systems that depend on synchronized timekeeping for security operations, logging, and protocol compliance. Attackers can manipulate time settings to evade security controls, disrupt audit trails, or synchronize malicious activities across multiple systems. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where precise time synchronization is critical for security operations, such as financial institutions, industrial control systems, and enterprise networks. According to CWE-259, this vulnerability represents a weakness in authentication mechanisms where hardcoded credentials are used instead of dynamic authentication, while ATT&CK technique T1078 covers legitimate credentials usage that can be exploited through such hardcoded accounts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1288 require immediate action to address the hardcoded credential issue. Organizations should first identify all instances of the affected device within their network infrastructure and verify whether the default credentials are still in use. The most effective immediate solution involves changing the default administrative credentials to strong, unique passwords that are not hardcoded in the device firmware. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the master clock device from critical network segments, limiting potential attack vectors. Device firmware updates from the vendor should be applied if available, though many older devices may no longer receive security updates. Additional security controls including network access control lists, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments should be implemented to monitor for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper authentication mechanisms and avoiding hardcoded credentials in security-critical devices, as specified in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure system design and implementation.