CVE-2016-2293 in Acuvim II NET
Summary
by MITRE
The AXM-NET module in Accuenergy Acuvim II NET Firmware 3.08 and Acuvim IIR NET Firmware 3.08 allows remote attackers to discover settings via a direct request to an unspecified URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2293 resides within the AXM-NET module of Accuenergy's Acuvim II NET and Acuvim IIR NET firmware versions 3.08, representing a significant security weakness that enables unauthorized information disclosure. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the network communication protocols used by these industrial energy monitoring devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and improper input validation within the web interface components of the firmware, allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms through direct URL manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authorization checks when processing HTTP requests to specific endpoints within the device's web server. Attackers can exploit this by sending crafted HTTP requests to unspecified URLs within the device's web interface, potentially gaining access to sensitive configuration parameters, network settings, and operational data that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization within network services. The flaw essentially provides an attack surface that allows for reconnaissance activities without requiring valid credentials or authentication tokens, making it particularly dangerous for industrial control systems.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to the security posture of facilities utilizing Accuenergy devices, as it enables remote attackers to gather intelligence about network configurations, device settings, and potentially sensitive operational parameters. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as this reconnaissance capability can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks targeting the industrial control systems. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments, where the exposure of network configuration details could facilitate lateral movement within the network or provide insights for targeted attacks against the broader industrial control system architecture. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1083 File and Directory Discovery, representing reconnaissance activities that precede more destructive attack phases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2293 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Accuenergy to address the specific authorization flaws within the AXM-NET module. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical business networks, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to basic configuration information, they cannot easily escalate privileges or access other system components. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP request patterns targeting the affected URLs, and access controls should be implemented at the network level to restrict access to these devices. Additionally, regular security assessments should include testing for similar authorization flaws within industrial control system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in networked industrial devices. The recommended remediation also includes disabling unnecessary web services and implementing strong authentication mechanisms for any remaining administrative access points to prevent unauthorized configuration changes.