CVE-2015-3969 in UMG
Summary
by MITRE
Janitza UMG 508, 509, 511, 604, and 605 devices allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive network-connection information via a request to UDP port (1) 1234 or (2) 1235.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3969 affects several Janitza power quality meters including the UMG 508, 509, 511, 604, and 605 models. These industrial devices are designed for monitoring electrical parameters in power distribution systems and are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments. The flaw resides in the network configuration of these devices which exposes sensitive connection information through unauthenticated UDP port access, creating a significant security risk for industrial control systems and energy management networks.
This vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure weakness that allows remote attackers to gather sensitive network connection data without requiring authentication credentials. The specific UDP ports 1234 and 1235 serve as entry points for attackers to extract network configuration details, connection parameters, and potentially other sensitive information that could aid in subsequent attack phases. The exposure occurs at the network protocol level where the devices fail to implement proper access controls or authentication mechanisms for these UDP services, making the information readily available to any remote party capable of sending packets to these ports.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with valuable intelligence for targeting these industrial devices within power distribution networks. The exposed network connection information could reveal internal network topology, device configurations, communication protocols, and potentially facilitate further attacks such as man-in-the-middle operations or lateral movement within the industrial network. This vulnerability particularly affects the security posture of critical infrastructure environments where these meters are deployed, as the information gathered could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the broader industrial control system ecosystem.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a significant concern for organizations following NIST SP 800-82 guidelines for industrial control systems security. The attack surface for this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the initial access and reconnaissance phases, where adversaries gather information about target systems before launching more targeted attacks. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments, disable unnecessary UDP services where possible, and apply firmware updates provided by Janitza to address this vulnerability. The incident also highlights the importance of conducting regular security assessments of industrial control systems and implementing proper network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to industrial equipment.