CVE-2013-5535 in Video Surveillance 4300e Ip Camera
Summary
by MITRE
The analytics page on Cisco Video Surveillance 4000 IP cameras has hardcoded credentials, which allows remote attackers to watch the video feed by leveraging knowledge of the password, aka Bug IDs CSCuj70402 and CSCuj70419.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5535 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Video Surveillance 4000 IP cameras that exposes sensitive video surveillance data through hardcoded authentication credentials. This issue affects the analytics page functionality of the surveillance system, creating an unauthorized access vector that enables remote attackers to gain continuous monitoring capabilities over the camera feed. The vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of authentication mechanisms where administrative credentials are embedded directly within the camera firmware rather than being dynamically generated or securely stored. This design flaw directly violates security best practices and creates a persistent backdoor that remains active regardless of network configuration changes or user authentication attempts. The hardcoded credentials pose a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure as they provide attackers with unrestricted access to video surveillance data without requiring additional exploitation techniques or credential guessing methods. The vulnerability affects the broader cybersecurity landscape by demonstrating how embedded systems in security infrastructure can contain fundamental flaws that compromise the integrity of entire surveillance networks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to monitor sensitive areas continuously, potentially gathering intelligence on personnel movements, security breaches, or unauthorized access attempts that would otherwise remain hidden from legitimate monitoring systems. The exposure of such credentials through the analytics page interface creates an additional attack surface that could be combined with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges or access additional network resources within the surveillance infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of hard-coded administrative credentials within the camera firmware that are not configurable or changeable by system administrators. These credentials are typically embedded in the software code or configuration files during the manufacturing process and remain static throughout the device lifecycle. The analytics page functionality specifically serves as the entry point where these hardcoded credentials are utilized for authentication purposes, allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures by simply knowing the predetermined password values. This approach to credential management violates multiple security standards including those outlined in the CWE database under categories related to hardcoded credentials and improper credential handling. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that these credentials are not only hardcoded but also not protected by additional security measures such as encryption or access controls that would normally prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply accessing the analytics page interface and using the known credentials to establish administrative sessions that provide full access to video feeds, system configuration options, and other surveillance data. The lack of proper input validation and authentication checks in the analytics page implementation creates an environment where these hardcoded credentials are automatically accepted without additional verification steps that would normally be required for legitimate administrative access.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5535 extends beyond simple unauthorized video access to encompass significant business and security risks for organizations relying on Cisco Video Surveillance 4000 IP cameras for security monitoring. The vulnerability enables attackers to conduct persistent surveillance operations without detection, potentially allowing them to gather intelligence on facility layouts, security patterns, and personnel behaviors over extended periods. This capability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of security monitoring systems, as unauthorized parties can manipulate or view surveillance data without alerting system administrators or triggering security alerts. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations when surveillance systems are compromised, particularly in industries governed by standards such as pci dss, hipaa, or iso 27001 that require strict control over access to sensitive monitoring data. The vulnerability also creates potential for insider threat exploitation where attackers could use the analytics page access to gain additional system privileges or combine this access with other network vulnerabilities to escalate their compromise. The long-term nature of this vulnerability means that organizations must continuously monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of the potential for unauthorized access to their surveillance infrastructure. Security incidents resulting from this vulnerability could lead to significant financial losses through theft of intellectual property, unauthorized access to restricted areas, or compromise of sensitive operational data that would normally be protected by surveillance systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address CVE-2013-5535 by disabling or restricting access to the analytics page functionality on affected Cisco Video Surveillance 4000 IP cameras when possible. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the exposure of these devices to unauthorized network segments and prevent lateral movement from the compromised surveillance infrastructure. Regular security audits should include verification of device firmware versions and confirmation that hardcoded credentials have not been exploited by monitoring network traffic for unauthorized access attempts to analytics pages. System administrators should implement network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious access patterns to surveillance infrastructure components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure device lifecycle management and the need for manufacturers to implement proper credential management practices that avoid the use of hardcoded authentication values in production systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls that restrict access to surveillance systems to authorized personnel only and establish procedures for regularly reviewing access permissions and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additional security controls should include regular firmware updates where available, network monitoring for anomalous traffic patterns, and implementation of network segmentation that isolates surveillance systems from general network access. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework includes techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address both the immediate exploitation vector and broader system access control issues. Proper incident response procedures should be established to handle potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including network isolation protocols, forensic analysis capabilities, and communication procedures for reporting security incidents to relevant stakeholders and regulatory bodies.