CVE-2015-7938 in EKI-132x
Summary
by MITRE
Advantech EKI-132x devices with firmware before 2015-12-31 allow remote attackers to bypass authentication via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2018
The CVE-2015-7938 vulnerability affects Advantech EKI-132x industrial Ethernet switches that shipped with firmware versions prior to December 31, 2015. These network devices are commonly deployed in industrial control systems and manufacturing environments where secure network communications are critical. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that undermines the fundamental security posture of these industrial network appliances. The affected devices operate in environments where network segmentation and access control are paramount for maintaining operational technology security.
This authentication bypass vulnerability allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device management interfaces without proper credentials. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw could be exploited through multiple attack paths including but not limited to web interface manipulation, API endpoint exploitation, or protocol-level weaknesses in the device's authentication mechanism. The vulnerability's classification as an authentication bypass aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to circumvent the normal authentication process and gain administrative access to the switch configuration and monitoring capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for industrial environments where these devices are deployed. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain full administrative control over the network switch, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, monitor network traffic, or disrupt industrial communications. This poses serious risks to operational technology infrastructure where network availability and integrity are critical for production processes. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices are often deployed in remote locations with limited physical security measures and may be accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions released after December 31, 2015, which contain the necessary security patches. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical production networks, and access controls should be enforced through firewalls and network access control lists. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in industrial environments and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 which addresses exploitation of remote services. Organizations should also implement continuous monitoring of their industrial network infrastructure to detect unauthorized access attempts and ensure that all network devices are properly configured with strong authentication mechanisms. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of industrial control systems are essential practices to identify and remediate similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in operational technology environments.