CVE-2015-7911 in Burgess
Summary
by MITRE
Saia Burgess PCD1.M0xx0, PCD1.M2xx0, PCD2.M5xx0, PCD3.Mxx60, PCD3.Mxxx0, PCD7.D4xxD, PCD7.D4xxV, PCD7.D4xxWTPF, and PCD7.D4xxxT5F devices before 1.24.50 and PCD3.T665 and PCD3.T666 devices before 1.24.41 have hardcoded credentials, which allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access via an FTP session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7911 affects a series of industrial control devices manufactured by Saia Burgess, specifically targeting models including PCD1.M0xx0, PCD1.M2xx0, PCD2.M5xx0, PCD3.Mxx60, PCD3.Mx xx0, PCD7.D4xxD, PCD7.D4xxV, PCD7.D4xxWTPF, and PCD7.D4xxxT5F devices running firmware versions prior to 1.24.50, along with PCD3.T665 and PCD3.T666 devices before 1.24.41. These industrial devices are commonly deployed in industrial automation and control systems where they manage critical processes and infrastructure. The flaw resides in the implementation of hardcoded credentials within the device firmware, a design weakness that violates fundamental security principles for embedded systems and industrial control environments. This vulnerability represents a critical risk to operational technology infrastructure as it provides unauthorized remote access to administrative functions without requiring any authentication or authorization from legitimate users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the inclusion of default usernames and passwords directly embedded within the device firmware code. These hardcoded credentials are typically set during manufacturing and remain unchanged throughout the device lifecycle, creating a persistent security weakness that attackers can exploit remotely through unencrypted FTP sessions. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to establish administrative FTP sessions without proper authentication, effectively granting them complete control over the device configuration, data access, and operational parameters. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded passwords and credentials in software, and represents a classic example of poor secure coding practices in embedded systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the device level within industrial control environments, where unauthorized access can lead to complete system compromise and operational disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to manipulate industrial processes, alter configuration settings, and potentially cause physical damage to equipment or disruption of critical infrastructure operations. In industrial control environments, these devices often manage processes related to manufacturing, power generation, water treatment, and other critical services where unauthorized modifications can have severe consequences. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the devices, significantly expanding the attack surface. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of industrial control systems, potentially leading to production downtime, safety hazards, and financial losses. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the hardcoded credentials to establish persistent access to industrial control systems. The impact is particularly severe in environments where these devices are not properly segmented or monitored, as attackers can move laterally within networks to compromise additional systems.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates to versions 1.24.50 or later for affected PCD1 and PCD7 devices, and version 1.24.41 or later for PCD3.T665 and PCD3.T666 devices. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate these industrial control devices from general network access, disable unnecessary FTP services where possible, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system infrastructure. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized FTP connections and unusual administrative activities on these devices. Additionally, device administrators should be educated about the risks associated with hardcoded credentials and the importance of maintaining updated firmware versions. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure-by-design principles in industrial control systems and emphasizes the importance of following industrial security standards such as IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82 for protecting critical infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and intrusion detection systems specifically designed for industrial environments to prevent exploitation of similar hardcoded credential vulnerabilities.