CVE-2013-7180 in Sailor Fleetbroadband 250
Summary
by MITRE
Cobham SAILOR 900 VSAT; SAILOR FleetBroadBand 150, 250, and 500; EXPLORER BGAN; and AVIATOR 200, 300, 350, and 700D devices do not properly restrict password recovery, which allows attackers to obtain administrative privileges by leveraging physical access or terminal access to spoof a reset code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-7180 affects a range of satellite communication devices manufactured by Cobham including SAILOR 900 VSAT systems, SAILOR FleetBroadBand models 150, 250, and 500, EXPLORER BGAN terminals, and AVIATOR series devices spanning models 200, 300, 350, and 700D. These devices are widely deployed in maritime, aviation, and remote communications environments where secure access to critical communication infrastructure is paramount. The flaw resides in the password recovery mechanism implementation, specifically failing to properly restrict or validate the password recovery process. This weakness allows unauthorized individuals to escalate privileges by exploiting physical access or terminal access to manipulate the system's reset code functionality. The vulnerability represents a significant security gap in the authentication and access control mechanisms of these communication devices, particularly concerning their design for secure remote operations where physical access might be limited but not impossible.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate validation of reset code generation and verification processes within the device's authentication subsystem. When a password recovery request is initiated, the system should enforce strict controls to ensure that only legitimate users can trigger the reset process and that the generated reset codes are properly validated before granting administrative access. However, the affected Cobham devices fail to implement proper restrictions that would prevent unauthorized individuals from spoofing or predicting reset codes. This weakness allows attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures by leveraging either direct physical access to the device console or terminal access through network connections, thereby enabling privilege escalation without proper authorization. The vulnerability manifests as a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, where the system does not adequately verify the authenticity of reset requests or validate the legitimacy of code generation processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on these communication devices for critical infrastructure operations. Attackers who gain physical access to these devices or can establish terminal sessions can escalate their privileges to administrative levels, potentially gaining complete control over communication systems that may be used for emergency response, military operations, maritime navigation, or commercial aviation communications. The ability to spoof reset codes means that unauthorized individuals can essentially bypass all password protection mechanisms, leading to potential data breaches, communication disruption, or even complete system compromise. Organizations using these devices in sensitive environments face risks of unauthorized access to critical communication channels, which could result in operational failures, security breaches, or loss of sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given the remote and often isolated nature of these communication systems, where physical access might be limited but not impossible, and where the consequences of unauthorized access can be severe.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access control restrictions for password recovery mechanisms, including enforcing strong validation of reset code requests and implementing proper authentication for administrative functions. Organizations should ensure that all affected devices receive firmware updates from Cobham that address the password recovery implementation flaws. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit physical and terminal access to these devices, while regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that proper access controls are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Device administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as secure boot processes, encrypted communications, and regular monitoring of access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should establish clear policies for device access and privilege management, ensuring that administrative access is restricted to authorized personnel only and that proper audit trails are maintained for all privileged activities.