CVE-2016-5810 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
upAdminPg.asp in Advantech WebAccess before 8.1_20160519 allows remote authenticated administrators to obtain sensitive password information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5810 affects Advantech WebAccess software versions prior to 8.1_20160519 and specifically targets the upAdminPg.asp component. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated administrators to extract sensitive password information through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability resides within the administrative web interface of Advantech WebAccess, a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) platform commonly used in industrial control systems and manufacturing environments. The affected component upAdminPg.asp handles administrative password management functions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and authentication security controls within the WebAccess platform.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of password information within the upAdminPg.asp script, which allows authenticated administrators to access password-related data that should remain protected. This behavior constitutes a privilege escalation vulnerability that violates fundamental security principles and represents a weakness in the application's access control mechanisms. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may involve information disclosure through various means such as direct parameter manipulation, improper error handling, or insecure direct object references. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability falls under CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and potentially CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) categories, as it enables unauthorized data access through legitimate administrative accounts. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that it affects industrial control systems where administrative credentials often have extensive privileges and access to critical infrastructure components.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5810 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the means to compromise the security of industrial control systems that rely on Advantech WebAccess for monitoring and control operations. Attackers who can leverage this vulnerability may gain access to administrative credentials that could be used to modify system configurations, access sensitive operational data, or potentially disrupt critical infrastructure operations. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where WebAccess is deployed for industrial automation, building management, or process control applications, where the compromise of administrative credentials could lead to significant operational disruptions. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the systems, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented. Organizations using this software may face regulatory compliance issues and increased risk of cyber attacks that could affect operational technology infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5810 should prioritize immediate software updates to Advantech WebAccess version 8.1_20160519 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the vulnerability. System administrators should implement network segmentation to isolate critical industrial control systems from general network access, thereby limiting the attack surface for potential exploitation. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that administrative privileges are granted only to authorized personnel with legitimate business needs, following the principle of least privilege. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative access patterns or attempts to access password-related information. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regularly auditing administrative access logs to identify potential unauthorized activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date industrial control system software and highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments of operational technology environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability relates to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as it exploits legitimate administrative credentials to gain access to sensitive information. Security teams should also consider implementing security awareness training for personnel who may inadvertently provide attackers with access to administrative accounts through social engineering or other means.