CVE-2016-8350 in ioLogik
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Moxa ioLogik E1210, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E1211, firmware Version V2.3 and prior, ioLogik E1212, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E1213, firmware Version V2.5 and prior, ioLogik E1214, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E1240, firmware Version V2.3 and prior, ioLogik E1241, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E1242, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E1260, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E1262, firmware Version V2.4 and prior, ioLogik E2210, firmware versions prior to V3.13, ioLogik E2212, firmware versions prior to V3.14, ioLogik E2214, firmware versions prior to V3.12, ioLogik E2240, firmware versions prior to V3.12, ioLogik E2242, firmware versions prior to V3.12, ioLogik E2260, firmware versions prior to V3.13, and ioLogik E2262, firmware versions prior to V3.12. The web application may not sufficiently verify whether a request was provided by a valid user (CROSS-SITE REQUEST FORGERY).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in Moxa ioLogik series industrial IoT devices, affecting multiple models across various firmware versions. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the web application interface that fails to properly authenticate and verify the origin of incoming requests. This weakness allows malicious actors to potentially exploit the system by tricking authenticated users into executing unintended actions through crafted requests. The vulnerability specifically impacts industrial devices used for remote monitoring and control in industrial environments, where unauthorized access could lead to significant operational disruptions and security breaches. The affected devices operate in critical infrastructure settings where maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized modifications is paramount for operational continuity and safety.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability manifests through the web application's failure to implement proper anti-forgery tokens or origin validation mechanisms. When users authenticate to the device's web interface, the system should verify that subsequent requests originate from legitimate authenticated sessions rather than being generated by external malicious actors. Without adequate protection mechanisms, attackers can construct malicious web pages or send specially crafted requests that, when executed by authenticated users, perform unauthorized operations on the device. This flaw directly violates security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering techniques where users are tricked into visiting malicious websites or through compromised network environments where attackers can manipulate traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can potentially compromise entire industrial control systems. In industrial environments, these devices often serve as critical components in monitoring and controlling processes where unauthorized modifications could lead to production disruptions, safety hazards, or even physical damage to equipment. The affected devices are typically deployed in remote locations where physical access is limited, making network-based exploitation particularly dangerous. Attackers could potentially modify device configurations, alter monitoring parameters, or disable critical security features without detection. This vulnerability can be leveraged as an initial access point in broader attack campaigns against industrial networks, as highlighted in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the initial access and persistence domains. The widespread nature of affected models suggests that organizations with multiple Moxa devices across their infrastructure may face cascading security risks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust authentication verification mechanisms including proper implementation of anti-forgery tokens, origin validation checks, and session management controls. Organizations should immediately update all affected devices to the latest firmware versions provided by Moxa, as these releases typically include fixes for known CSRF vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining CSRF vulnerabilities in industrial control systems. The remediation process must also include proper configuration management and monitoring of device access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should implement network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious patterns of traffic that may indicate CSRF attack attempts. Given the industrial context, organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust network architectures that verify all communications regardless of their source location within the network infrastructure.