CVE-2013-5754 in Dvr5408
Summary
by MITRE
The authorization implementation on Dahua DVR appliances accepts a hash string representing the current date for the role of a master password, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain administrative access and change the administrator password via requests involving (1) ActiveX, (2) a standalone client, or (3) unspecified other vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-3612.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5754 affects Dahua digital video recorder appliances and represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security of these surveillance systems. This weakness resides in the authentication mechanism implementation where the system accepts a hash string derived from the current date as a master password component. The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain administrative privileges, fundamentally compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the surveillance infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple access vectors including ActiveX components, standalone client applications, and unspecified other methods, making it highly exploitable across different attack surfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an insecure cryptographic approach where temporal data is used as a password component rather than implementing proper authentication mechanisms. This design flaw creates a predictable authentication path that attackers can exploit by calculating or guessing the hash values derived from date information. The weakness enables unauthorized access to administrative functions, allowing attackers to modify administrator credentials and potentially gain full control over the surveillance system. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and can be classified as a CWE-287 issue related to improper handling of authentication tokens. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no local access or physical presence, making it a remote exploit that can be executed over network connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of surveillance systems that rely on Dahua appliances for monitoring and security operations. Once an attacker gains administrative access, they can modify system configurations, alter recorded footage, disable security features, and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data from the network. The ability to change administrator passwords creates a persistent backdoor that can be used for ongoing unauthorized access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on these systems for security monitoring. This weakness directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through unauthorized modifications, and availability through potential system disruption.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate Dahua appliances from critical systems, applying vendor-provided patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available, and implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious authentication attempts. Security administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary ActiveX components and standalone client access where possible, while implementing strong access controls and regular security audits. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication design and highlights the risks associated with using predictable temporal data as security components. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of similar authentication weaknesses, as this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through network-based attacks. The flaw underscores the necessity of robust cryptographic implementations and proper authentication protocols in security-critical systems to prevent unauthorized administrative access and maintain the integrity of surveillance infrastructure.