CVE-2016-5070 in GX 440
Summary
by MITRE
Sierra Wireless GX 440 devices with ALEOS firmware 4.3.2 store passwords in cleartext.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5070 affects Sierra Wireless GX 440 cellular gateway devices running ALEOS firmware version 4.3.2, representing a critical security flaw in embedded network infrastructure. This device operates within industrial and enterprise environments where secure communication is paramount, making the exposure of credentials particularly dangerous. The flaw manifests in the device's configuration management system where administrative passwords are stored without any form of encryption or obfuscation, leaving them accessible in plaintext format within the device's configuration files or memory structures. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles governing credential storage and represents a clear violation of industry best practices for secure system design.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper secure coding practices within the ALEOS firmware, specifically in how authentication credentials are handled during device configuration and storage processes. When administrators configure the device, their passwords are written directly to persistent storage without cryptographic protection, making them immediately accessible to any entity with physical access to the device or network-level privileges to read configuration files. This cleartext storage mechanism creates a persistent exposure that remains active throughout the device's operational lifecycle, regardless of network connectivity or administrative access controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the device's software stack and affects the device's configuration management subsystem, which is responsible for maintaining system credentials and access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, creating cascading security risks within network environments where these devices operate. An attacker with access to the device can immediately escalate privileges and gain complete administrative control over the cellular gateway, potentially enabling unauthorized network access, data interception, or lateral movement within connected networks. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems and IoT deployments where these devices serve as critical communication endpoints, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking persistent access to operational technology environments. The exposure of passwords also enables credential replay attacks and facilitates unauthorized configuration changes that could disrupt network services or create backdoor access points.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. The primary recommendation involves updating the affected devices to firmware versions that implement proper credential encryption and secure storage mechanisms, which directly addresses the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices, deploy additional authentication layers, and conduct comprehensive credential rotation exercises for all affected systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a significant weakness in the device's security posture that violates NIST SP 800-53 security controls for secure configuration management. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) and T1078 (Valid Accounts), highlighting the importance of secure credential handling in maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure.