CVE-2015-7915 in EY-WS505F0x0 moduWeb Vision
Summary
by MITRE
Sauter EY-WS505F0x0 moduWeb Vision before 1.6.0 sends cleartext credentials, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2018
The CVE-2015-7915 vulnerability affects the Sauter EY-WS505F0x0 moduWeb Vision device, a web-based interface for industrial automation systems. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the device's authentication mechanism that exposes sensitive credentials during network communication. The affected device operates within industrial control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition environments where secure authentication is paramount for operational technology infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running moduWeb Vision software versions prior to 1.6.0, making them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and credential interception.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from the device's implementation of cleartext credential transmission during network communication. When users authenticate to the moduWeb Vision interface, the system transmits username and password information in an unencrypted format over the network. This cleartext transmission violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to capture authentication credentials through simple network sniffing operations. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to implement proper encryption mechanisms for sensitive data transmission, specifically targeting the authentication phase of network communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential system compromise and operational disruption within industrial environments. Remote attackers who successfully intercept the cleartext credentials can gain unauthorized access to the industrial control system, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, data manipulation, or complete system takeover. This represents a significant risk in operational technology environments where system integrity and availability are critical. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform lateral movement within network segments and could facilitate more sophisticated attacks targeting industrial control systems, as outlined in the attack patterns described by the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and lateral movement techniques.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission of credentials. This weakness in the device's architecture creates an attack surface that directly enables credential harvesting attacks and violates the principle of least privilege in industrial control systems. Organizations implementing these devices face potential regulatory compliance issues under standards such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443, which mandate secure communication practices for industrial automation systems. The vulnerability also demonstrates a failure to implement proper cryptographic controls for network communication, which is a fundamental requirement for protecting industrial control system assets from cyber threats.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to moduWeb Vision version 1.6.0 or later, which addresses the cleartext credential transmission issue through proper encryption implementation. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous authentication patterns and potential credential interception attempts. The deployment of network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious network traffic patterns associated with credential sniffing activities. Additionally, organizations should establish network monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and credential harvesting operations, particularly in environments where industrial control systems interact with enterprise networks. These mitigations align with the defensive strategies recommended in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and provide layered protection against credential-based attacks targeting industrial control systems.