CVE-2015-7255 in OX-330P
Summary
by MITRE
ZTE OX-330P, ZXHN H108N, W300V1.0.0S_ZRD_TR1_D68, HG110, GAN9.8T101A-B, MF28G, ZXHN H108N use non-unique X.509 certificates and SSH host keys, which might allow remote attackers to obtain credentials or other sensitive information via a man-in-the-middle attack, passive decryption attack, or impersonating a legitimate device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7255 affects multiple ZTE network devices including the OX-330P, ZXHN H108N, W300V1.0.0S_ZRD_TR1_D68, HG110, GAN9.8T101A-B, MF28G, and other models that utilize embedded systems with weak cryptographic implementations. This issue stems from the use of non-unique X.509 certificates and SSH host keys across different device models, creating a fundamental security flaw that undermines the integrity of secure communications. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the device firmware's cryptographic key management, where identical or predictable cryptographic materials are deployed across multiple units, making them susceptible to various forms of cryptographic attacks.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper generation and deployment of cryptographic identifiers that should be unique to each device instance. When multiple devices share identical X.509 certificates or SSH host keys, attackers can exploit this predictability to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting communications between legitimate users and devices. This weakness directly violates the principle of unique cryptographic identity establishment, which is fundamental to secure communications protocols and is specifically addressed by CWE-315 which deals with cleartext storage of sensitive data and CWE-326 which covers inadequate encryption strength. The shared cryptographic materials create a scenario where an attacker can decrypt communications, impersonate legitimate devices, or perform passive decryption attacks without requiring sophisticated cryptographic breaking techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass complete network compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Remote attackers can leverage these non-unique cryptographic identifiers to establish trust relationships with network devices, potentially gaining administrative access to the affected systems. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform passive decryption attacks against network traffic, compromising the confidentiality of communications between network users and devices. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where these devices may serve as gateways or access points to critical network infrastructure, allowing attackers to pivot through networks and escalate privileges. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can exploit the weak cryptographic foundation to gain unauthorized access to network resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of cryptographic key regeneration across all affected devices, ensuring that each device possesses unique X.509 certificates and SSH host keys. Network administrators must implement certificate management protocols that enforce unique cryptographic identities for each device instance, preventing the reuse of cryptographic materials across multiple units. The remediation process should include firmware updates from ZTE that address the cryptographic key generation flaws, along with network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromises. Additionally, organizations should implement certificate pinning mechanisms and regular cryptographic audits to ensure that unique identifiers remain in place. The solution aligns with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and addresses the specific requirements of the CWE-315 and CWE-326 categories that govern secure cryptographic implementation. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous certificate usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should verify that cryptographic materials remain unique and properly managed across all networked devices.