CVE-2016-2311 in AlertWerks ServSensor
Summary
by MITRE
Black Box AlertWerks ServSensor with firmware before SP473, AlertWerks ServSensor Junior with firmware before SP473, AlertWerks ServSensor Junior with PoE with firmware before SP473, and AlertWerks ServSensor Contact with firmware before SP473 allow remote authenticated users to discover administrator and user passwords via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2018
This vulnerability affects multiple models of AlertWerks ServSensor security devices including the standard ServSensor, ServSensor Junior, ServSensor Junior with PoE, and ServSensor Contact all running firmware versions prior to SP473. The flaw represents a significant security weakness that allows remote authenticated attackers to extract administrator and user passwords through unspecified vectors, fundamentally undermining the device's authentication security model. The vulnerability exists within the firmware implementation and specifically targets the password handling mechanisms, creating a potential backdoor for unauthorized access to the security monitoring systems. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities and can be classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms according to CWE-312. The affected devices are designed for security monitoring and alerting purposes, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it directly compromises the integrity of the security infrastructure they are meant to protect.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials within the device firmware, where authenticated users can exploit unspecified vectors to extract password information from the system. This type of vulnerability typically involves weaknesses in how the system manages and stores sensitive information, potentially allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be related to insecure communication protocols, improper access controls, or flawed credential storage mechanisms within the firmware. Attackers with valid authentication credentials to the system can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. The impact is particularly severe because it allows attackers to obtain credentials that can be used for further exploitation within the network environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of organizations relying on these devices for monitoring and alerting. When attackers can extract administrator passwords, they gain full control over the security monitoring system, potentially allowing them to disable alerts, modify security policies, or redirect monitoring data to evade detection. This vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of security monitoring services, as attackers can manipulate the system to hide their activities or prevent legitimate security events from being reported. Organizations using these devices may experience false security alerts, missed security incidents, or complete compromise of their monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to conduct persistent surveillance or establish footholds within the network environment, as the compromised credentials can be used to access other systems or services within the organization's infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to SP473 or later versions that address the password disclosure issue. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices and prioritize their remediation based on risk exposure. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or credential access attempts. Security teams should also review and strengthen their credential management practices, including implementing multi-factor authentication where possible and regularly rotating administrative passwords. The vulnerability highlights the importance of firmware security and regular update management as part of overall cybersecurity operations, aligning with NIST cybersecurity framework recommendations for system maintenance and security updates. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious authentication activities or credential access patterns that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.