CVE-2016-8363 in OnCell
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Moxa OnCell OnCellG3470A-LTE, AWK-1131A/3131A/4131A Series, AWK-3191 Series, AWK-5232/6232 Series, AWK-1121/1127 Series, WAC-1001 V2 Series, WAC-2004 Series, AWK-3121-M12-RTG Series, AWK-3131-M12-RCC Series, AWK-5232-M12-RCC Series, TAP-6226 Series, AWK-3121/4121 Series, AWK-3131/4131 Series, and AWK-5222/6222 Series. User is able to execute arbitrary OS commands on the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8363 represents a critical remote command execution flaw affecting multiple Moxa industrial networking devices including various OnCell G3470A-LTE models and numerous AWK and WAC series devices. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the device's web interface, allowing authenticated users to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server. The flaw exists in the device's handling of user-supplied parameters within HTTP requests, specifically within the configuration and management interfaces that are accessible over the network. According to CWE-77, this vulnerability falls under the category of "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')", which represents a well-established class of vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise. The affected devices operate in industrial environments where network security is paramount, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to gain full control over critical infrastructure components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with valid credentials to manipulate input fields within the web administration interface to inject malicious command sequences. When the device processes these malformed inputs, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the user-supplied data before executing it as part of the operating system shell command. This creates a direct pathway for command injection attacks where attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw because the attack can be performed entirely through network-based interactions without requiring physical access to the device. The impact extends beyond simple command execution as it enables attackers to modify device configurations, access sensitive data, install backdoors, or even escalate privileges to root level access depending on the device's configuration and the underlying operating system implementation.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control systems and network infrastructure deployments where Moxa devices are commonly used for remote monitoring and management. The affected devices are typically deployed in critical infrastructure environments including manufacturing facilities, utilities, and telecommunications networks where device compromise could lead to operational disruptions, data breaches, or even physical safety hazards. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device series indicates a widespread issue within the Moxa product line, suggesting that organizations may have numerous affected devices across their network infrastructure. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of system commands through web interfaces. The attack vector represents a common pattern in industrial IoT devices where security controls are often insufficiently implemented, making these systems prime targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to critical infrastructure networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments and apply vendor-provided firmware updates or patches as soon as they become available. The recommended mitigation strategy includes enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, implementing network access controls, and regularly monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected devices within their infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures for command execution activities. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious command injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in embedded systems, particularly in industrial environments where security is often overlooked in favor of functionality and ease of management. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts involving command injection attacks.