CVE-2015-7932 in A840 Telemetry Gateway Base Station
Summary
by MITRE
Adcon Telemetry A840 Telemetry Gateway Base Station allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2018
The CVE-2015-7932 vulnerability affects the Adcon Telemetry A840 Telemetry Gateway Base Station, a device commonly used in industrial and IoT environments for telemetry data collection and transmission. This vulnerability represents a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to perform network sniffing operations and extract sensitive information from the device's communications. The affected system operates within critical infrastructure environments where telemetry data often contains proprietary information, operational parameters, and potentially sensitive operational data that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient network traffic encryption and authentication mechanisms within the A840 device's communication protocols. When attackers perform network sniffing operations, they can capture unencrypted data packets transmitted between the telemetry gateway and connected devices. This vulnerability specifically exploits weaknesses in the device's wireless communication stack, where sensitive information including device identifiers, configuration parameters, and telemetry data flows unencrypted over the network. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-310 (Cryptography Issues) as it involves the exposure of sensitive data through unencrypted communications. The device's failure to implement proper encryption standards such as TLS or WPA2-Enterprise authentication creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to intercept and analyze network traffic without requiring physical access or advanced exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the stolen telemetry data could provide attackers with insights into critical infrastructure operations, device configurations, and network topology. In industrial environments, this information could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific operational parameters or to identify other vulnerable systems within the network. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where telemetry data contains operational secrets, process parameters, or security-related information that could be leveraged for lateral movement or privilege escalation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can use the captured information to conduct further reconnaissance and establish more persistent access to the network. Organizations using this device may face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive operational data is compromised, particularly in sectors governed by standards such as NIST SP 800-82 or IEC 62443.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7932 should focus on implementing network segmentation and encryption controls to prevent unauthorized access to telemetry communications. Organizations should deploy network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual traffic patterns and potential sniffing activities, while also implementing proper encryption protocols for all telemetry data transmission. The device should be configured to use encrypted communication channels and strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to network traffic. Security patches and firmware updates should be applied immediately to address the underlying communication protocol flaws, and network administrators should implement intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the telemetry infrastructure, with particular attention to ensuring that all network communications are properly encrypted and authenticated to prevent similar information disclosure incidents.