CVE-2016-2294 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 a cleartext mail-server password via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2294 resides within the AXM-NET module of Accuenergy's Acuvim II NET and Acuvim IIR NET firmware versions 3.08, representing a critical security flaw that exposes sensitive authentication credentials to remote attackers. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, where attackers can obtain cleartext passwords through unspecified attack vectors, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure that relies on these devices for monitoring and control purposes. The affected devices are industrial energy monitoring systems designed for utility applications, making them prime targets for adversaries seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in secure credential handling within the network communication module of these industrial devices. The AXM-NET module, responsible for network connectivity and communication protocols, inadvertently stores or transmits mail-server authentication credentials in cleartext format rather than implementing proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms. This flaw allows remote attackers to intercept network traffic or exploit other unspecified vectors to extract these passwords, which could then be used to gain unauthorized access to email systems or other network services that these monitoring devices utilize for reporting and alerting functions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the firmware versions 3.08 of both Acuvim II NET and Acuvim IIR NET models, indicating a widespread issue affecting multiple generations of the same product line.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2294 extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised mail-server passwords can enable attackers to gain access to critical communication channels used by industrial monitoring systems. This vulnerability directly affects the security posture of utility companies and industrial facilities that deploy these devices, potentially allowing adversaries to disrupt operations through email-based alerts, gain access to additional network resources, or even execute further attacks through compromised communication channels. The implications are particularly severe in industrial control systems environments where network monitoring devices serve as critical components of operational technology infrastructure, where such vulnerabilities could lead to service interruptions, data breaches, or even physical security risks. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the devices, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for distributed industrial installations.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates provided by Accuenergy to address the cleartext password exposure issue, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify other potentially affected devices, as this vulnerability represents a broader pattern of insecure credential handling in industrial networking equipment. The implementation of network traffic encryption, particularly for communication protocols involving authentication credentials, should be mandatory for all industrial devices. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with multiple industry standards including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 requirements for secure information handling, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and network sniffing. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation of similar credential disclosure vulnerabilities.