CVE-2014-9194 in 1094B GPS Substation Clock
Summary
by MITRE
Arbiter 1094B GPS Substation Clock allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (disruption) via crafted radio transmissions that spoof GPS satellite broadcasts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2025
The CVE-2014-9194 vulnerability affects the Arbiter 1094B GPS Substation Clock, a critical component in time synchronization infrastructure used across various industrial and telecommunications systems. This device serves as a bridge between GPS satellite signals and local network time protocols, making it a potential target for sophisticated cyber attacks that could disrupt critical operations. The vulnerability stems from the device's inability to properly validate incoming GPS signals, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted radio transmissions that mimic legitimate GPS satellite broadcasts. The flaw exists in the device's signal processing and validation mechanisms, which fail to distinguish between authentic and spoofed GPS signals, thereby allowing unauthorized entities to manipulate the time synchronization process. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to critical infrastructure sectors including power grids, financial systems, telecommunications networks, and transportation control systems that rely on precise timekeeping for their operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of the GPS signal reception and processing protocols within the Arbiter 1094B device. Attackers can generate and transmit radio frequency signals that appear to originate from legitimate GPS satellites, specifically targeting the device's GPS receiver module and time synchronization algorithms. The device's architecture lacks robust signal authenticity verification mechanisms, meaning it accepts spoofed signals without proper cryptographic validation or signal integrity checks. This weakness allows attackers to inject false time data into the system, potentially causing cascading failures across interconnected systems that depend on synchronized timing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues in security protocols, specifically focusing on the absence of proper authentication mechanisms for time synchronization data. The attack vector operates at the physical layer through radio frequency manipulation, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate through traditional network security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple disruption, as it can lead to complete system failures in time-critical applications. When the Arbiter 1094B device receives spoofed GPS signals, it propagates incorrect time information throughout connected systems, potentially causing cascading failures in synchronized operations. Power grid control systems may experience timing discrepancies that lead to equipment malfunctions or protective relay failures, while telecommunications networks could face service degradation or complete outages due to time synchronization errors. Financial systems relying on precise timestamping for transaction processing may experience data integrity issues, and transportation control systems could face operational disruptions that compromise safety protocols. The denial of service effect is particularly concerning because it can occur silently without detection, as the spoofed signals appear legitimate to the device's receiving hardware and software components. This vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks, but with a unique twist involving GPS signal spoofing that targets the fundamental time synchronization infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9194 require a multi-layered approach combining hardware security measures with network monitoring and operational procedures. Organizations should implement GPS signal integrity monitoring systems that can detect anomalies in received signals and alert operators to potential spoofing attempts. The installation of signal authentication mechanisms and cryptographic validation protocols can help verify the authenticity of received GPS data before accepting it for system synchronization. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of compromised devices, while regular security assessments of time synchronization infrastructure should be conducted to identify vulnerable components. System administrators should also consider deploying redundant time sources and implementing fail-safe mechanisms that can detect and isolate spoofed time data. The vulnerability highlights the importance of supply chain security and the need for manufacturers to implement robust security testing for critical infrastructure devices, particularly those operating in environments where timing accuracy is paramount for system operation and safety. Regular firmware updates and security patches should be applied to address known vulnerabilities, while operational procedures should include protocols for detecting and responding to time synchronization anomalies that could indicate an active attack.