CVE-2014-2717 in FALCON XLWeb XLWebExe
Summary
by MITRE
Honeywell FALCON XLWeb Linux controller devices 2.04.01 and earlier and FALCON XLWeb XLWebExe controller devices 2.02.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to bypass authentication and obtain administrative access by visiting the change-password page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2717 affects Honeywell FALCON XLWeb Linux controller devices running version 2.04.01 and earlier, as well as FALCON XLWeb XLWebExe controller devices version 2.02.11 and earlier. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental access control mechanisms of these industrial control systems. The vulnerability specifically resides in the web interface implementation of these devices, which are commonly deployed in industrial environments for process control and monitoring. These controllers are part of the broader industrial control systems landscape where security is paramount due to the potential for operational technology disruption and safety risks. The affected devices are typically used in manufacturing, process control, and critical infrastructure applications where unauthorized access could lead to significant operational and safety consequences.
The technical flaw manifests through a design weakness in the password change functionality of the web interface. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by directly accessing the change-password page without prior authentication, effectively circumventing the normal authentication flow that should require valid credentials before allowing access to administrative functions. This bypass mechanism allows remote attackers to gain administrative privileges on the device, providing them with full control over the controller's operations, configuration settings, and potentially the entire industrial process it manages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the web application layer, where the system fails to properly verify the user's identity before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over critical industrial equipment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify control parameters, disrupt process operations, alter safety settings, or even cause physical damage to industrial assets. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the devices, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where physical security measures may be insufficient. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of industrial control systems, potentially leading to production disruptions, safety hazards, and financial losses. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable in environments where industrial control systems are not properly segmented from corporate networks, creating additional attack vectors for exploitation. Organizations using these devices face significant risk of operational technology compromise, especially in critical infrastructure sectors where the consequences of unauthorized access can be severe.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2717 should focus on immediate remediation through official firmware updates provided by Honeywell, which would address the authentication bypass vulnerability in the web interface. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate these industrial control devices from general corporate networks, reducing the attack surface available to remote attackers. Additional security measures include implementing strong network access controls, disabling unnecessary web services, and regularly monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication design in industrial control systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers could potentially leverage this access to escalate privileges and maintain persistent access. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities and ensure proper security configurations are in place to prevent unauthorized access to critical operational technology infrastructure.