CVE-2016-4501 in 8832 Data Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Environmental Systems Corporation (ESC) 8832 Data Controller 3.02 and earlier mishandles sessions, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and make arbitrary configuration changes via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4501 affects Environmental Systems Corporation ESC 8832 Data Controller versions 3.02 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that exposes system configuration controls to unauthorized remote access. This issue stems from improper session management within the device's authentication framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent legitimate security controls without valid credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the session handling mechanisms that should enforce access controls and maintain secure authentication states throughout the device's operational lifecycle.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in how the system processes and validates session identifiers, allowing attackers to exploit weaknesses in the session management protocol. This misconfiguration enables unauthorized users to establish valid sessions without proper authentication, effectively granting them full administrative privileges over the device. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple attack surfaces including network-based protocols, web interfaces, or direct device communication channels. The session mishandling creates a persistent access vector that remains active even after initial exploitation attempts, potentially allowing attackers to maintain control over extended periods without detection.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to industrial control systems and environmental monitoring infrastructure that rely on ESC 8832 controllers for critical operations. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to modify device configurations, potentially disrupting environmental controls, altering sensor readings, or disabling critical safety mechanisms. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as the ability to make arbitrary configuration changes can lead to system instability, data corruption, or complete operational failure of environmental monitoring systems. Organizations utilizing these controllers face potential safety hazards, regulatory compliance violations, and operational disruptions that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address the session management flaws, network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and enhanced monitoring of authentication events and configuration changes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration and improper session handling, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and credential access. Organizations must conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems, implement network access controls, and establish robust monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized configuration changes. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar session management weaknesses in other industrial equipment and ensure comprehensive protection against similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.