CVE-2015-6479 in Wireless ALEOS
Summary
by MITRE
ACEmanager in Sierra Wireless ALEOS 4.4.2 and earlier on ES440, ES450, GX400, GX440, GX450, and LS300 devices allows remote attackers to read the filteredlogs.txt file, and consequently discover potentially sensitive boot-sequence information, via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6479 affects Sierra Wireless ALEOS versions 4.4.2 and earlier across multiple device models including ES440, ES450, GX400, GX440, GX450, and LS300. This represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the ACEmanager component that governs access to system logs and boot sequences. The vulnerability resides in the improper access controls implemented within the device's embedded operating system, specifically allowing unauthorized remote access to sensitive system information that should remain protected from external observation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the ACEmanager service. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors to gain access to the filteredlogs.txt file which contains detailed boot sequence information including system initialization parameters, hardware configuration data, and potentially sensitive operational details. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages network-based attack vectors to bypass normal authentication mechanisms, effectively creating a backdoor for information extraction without proper authorization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes improper information exposure as a fundamental weakness in software design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the boot sequence information could reveal critical system architecture details that adversaries might exploit for further attacks. The filteredlogs.txt file may contain sensitive data such as hardware identifiers, firmware versions, network configuration parameters, and system initialization sequences that could be used to craft targeted attacks against the device or its network environment. This information disclosure vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities and potentially escalate privileges or conduct more sophisticated attacks against the affected systems. The risk is particularly elevated given that these devices are typically deployed in industrial control systems and telecommunications environments where such information could compromise entire network infrastructures.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to system log files. The mitigation strategy should also include disabling unnecessary network services and implementing strict access controls for administrative interfaces. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability affects organizations subject to standards such as nist 800-53 and iso 27001, where information disclosure represents a significant security control failure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique under the information gathering phase, where adversaries collect system information to support later exploitation phases. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar access control flaws in embedded systems and ensure proper patch management processes are maintained across industrial control environments.