CVE-2015-6464 in EDS-405A
Summary
by MITRE
The administrative web interface on Moxa EDS-405A and EDS-408A switches with firmware before 3.6 allows remote authenticated users to bypass a read-only protection mechanism by using Firefox with a web-developer plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6464 affects Moxa EDS-405A and EDS-408A network switches running firmware versions prior to 3.6. These industrial network devices are designed for industrial environments where network management and security are critical components of operational technology infrastructure. The affected switches implement an administrative web interface that should enforce read-only protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modifications to network configurations. However, this protection mechanism can be circumvented through a specific browser-based attack vector that exploits the interaction between the web interface and certain browser extensions.
The technical flaw stems from how the administrative web interface handles authentication and authorization checks when specific browser plugins are enabled. When using Firefox with a web-developer plugin, the browser's developer tools can manipulate the web interface's behavior in ways that bypass the intended read-only protection. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and improper access control implementation where the system fails to properly validate the user's authorization level before allowing certain operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285 which deals with improper authorization in access control systems, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through application weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for industrial environments where these switches are deployed. An authenticated attacker who can access the web interface can potentially modify network configurations, disrupt operations, or create backdoors within the industrial network infrastructure. This risk is particularly concerning because the switches are designed for critical industrial applications where network stability and security are paramount. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the network management system and could lead to unauthorized changes that might compromise the entire industrial control network. The fact that this can be exploited through a common browser plugin makes the attack surface wider and more accessible to threat actors who may not require specialized tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates to version 3.6 or later, which would contain the necessary security patches to properly enforce read-only protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting access to the administrative web interface to trusted networks only, implementing network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities. The use of browser plugins should be restricted in environments where industrial network management interfaces are accessed, and organizations should consider implementing additional authentication layers or multi-factor authentication for administrative access. Regular security assessments of industrial network infrastructure should include evaluation of web interface security controls and proper authorization mechanisms to prevent similar bypass vulnerabilities from being exploited in other industrial network devices.