CVE-2014-2359 in Wireless Sensor Network Device
Summary
by MITRE
OleumTech Wireless Sensor Network devices allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about sensor nodes or spoof devices by reading cleartext protocol data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2359 affects OleumTech Wireless Sensor Network devices that operate within industrial environments where security is paramount for operational technology systems. These wireless sensor networks are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure settings including oil and gas facilities, water treatment plants, and other industrial control systems where sensor data integrity and device authentication are essential for maintaining operational safety and security. The flaw manifests in the protocol implementation used by these devices, which fails to properly encrypt or authenticate communication between sensor nodes and network management systems, creating a significant exposure in the industrial IoT ecosystem.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of communication protocols within the OleumTech devices, specifically the transmission of protocol data in cleartext format without adequate encryption mechanisms. This design flaw allows unauthorized parties to intercept and analyze network traffic using standard network monitoring tools, enabling them to extract sensitive information about sensor configurations, operational parameters, and device identifiers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information and CWE-310 Cryptographic Issues, representing a fundamental failure in implementing proper cryptographic controls for network communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain detailed knowledge of the sensor network topology, which may include device serial numbers, location data, and operational status information that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables device spoofing capabilities that can compromise the integrity of the entire sensor network. When attackers can read cleartext protocol data, they can potentially impersonate legitimate sensor nodes, manipulate sensor readings, or inject false data into the network, leading to incorrect operational decisions and potential safety hazards. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can use the information gathered to craft more targeted attacks against the network infrastructure. The exposure of sensor node information also violates fundamental security principles of defense in depth, as it provides attackers with crucial intelligence that would normally be protected through proper network segmentation and encryption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2359 should focus on implementing robust encryption protocols for all network communications within the wireless sensor network infrastructure. Organizations should deploy network segmentation measures to isolate sensor networks from general enterprise networks, implement proper authentication mechanisms for device communication, and ensure that all protocol data is transmitted using strong encryption standards such as TLS or IPSec. Additionally, regular network monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and device firmware should be updated to address the underlying protocol implementation flaws. Security teams should also consider implementing network access controls and device integrity monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive network information and maintain the integrity of the sensor network operations.