CVE-2015-7286 in DualCom GPRS CS2300-R
Summary
by MITRE
CSL DualCom GPRS CS2300-R devices with firmware 1.25 through 3.53 rely on a polyalphabetic substitution cipher with hardcoded keys, which makes it easier for remote attackers to defeat a cryptographic protection mechanism by capturing IP or v22bis PSTN protocol traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CSL DualCom GPRS CS2300-R device represents a critical network security vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7286, where the device employs a polyalphabetic substitution cipher with hardcoded keys for cryptographic protection. This flaw exists in firmware versions ranging from 1.25 through 3.53, creating a persistent security weakness that affects numerous deployed units across various industrial and commercial environments. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of weak cryptographic mechanisms that fail to provide adequate security assurances for the protected communications.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of a polyalphabetic substitution cipher with predetermined hardcoded keys, which fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security model. This approach violates established security principles and aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms. The hardcoded nature of these keys means that any attacker who can capture network traffic can potentially reverse-engineer the encryption mechanism, as the keys remain static and predictable. The vulnerability specifically impacts both IP and v22bis PSTN protocol traffic, creating a dual attack surface that extends beyond traditional network boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it creates opportunities for advanced persistent threats and man-in-the-middle attacks. Remote attackers can capture network traffic and utilize the hardcoded keys to decrypt communications, potentially gaining access to sensitive operational data, control commands, or authentication information. This weakness directly enables adversaries to perform protocol analysis and decryption attacks that align with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting. The vulnerability affects not just data at rest but also data in transit, creating a comprehensive security compromise that can lead to system takeover or operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. Organizations should immediately upgrade to firmware versions that eliminate the hardcoded cryptographic keys and implement proper key management practices. The solution requires replacement of the polyalphabetic substitution cipher with robust modern encryption algorithms such as AES-256, which aligns with industry standards and security frameworks. Network segmentation and traffic monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify that cryptographic implementations meet current security requirements and that no other hardcoded elements exist within the system architecture. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of avoiding hardcoded cryptographic elements and emphasizes the necessity of proper key lifecycle management in industrial control systems and network devices.