CVE-2016-0853 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
Advantech WebAccess before 8.1 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via crafted input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0853 affects Advantech WebAccess software versions prior to 8.1, representing a significant security weakness that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive information through carefully constructed input payloads. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, where improper input validation allows unauthorized access to system data that should remain protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates entirely remotely without requiring any authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the affected system.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the Advantech WebAccess platform, specifically within its web interface components. When processing user-supplied data through various input fields, the system fails to properly validate or filter maliciously crafted inputs that could trigger information leakage behaviors. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate the application's response handling to reveal system details, configuration information, or other sensitive data that should be restricted. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing robust input validation controls to prevent such information disclosure scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0853 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks that leverage the leaked information for further exploitation. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain insights into the target system's configuration, network topology, or internal structures that would normally remain hidden. This reconnaissance capability significantly weakens the overall security posture of affected systems and provides attackers with valuable intelligence for planning subsequent attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that threat actors can operate from anywhere on the internet without physical access to the target environment, amplifying the potential damage and attack surface.
Organizations using affected Advantech WebAccess versions should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and updates to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect any suspicious activity related to information disclosure attempts, along with regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the industrial control system environment. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while maintaining proper logging and audit trails enables detection of unauthorized information access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security design that frequently leads to information disclosure and other serious security consequences. The attack pattern follows typical information gathering techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information discovery category, where adversaries seek to understand system configurations and data structures to facilitate more targeted attacks.