CVE-2016-8724 in AWK-3131A
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable information disclosure vulnerability exists in the serviceAgent functionality of Moxa AWK-3131A Wireless Access Point running firmware 1.1. A specially crafted TCP query will allow an attacker to retrieve potentially sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The CVE-2016-8724 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Moxa AWK-3131A Wireless Access Point device, specifically affecting firmware version 1.1. This vulnerability resides within the serviceAgent functionality, which is designed to handle various network service requests and administrative operations. The device operates in a wireless networking environment where it serves as a bridge between wired and wireless network segments, making it a crucial component in industrial and enterprise network infrastructures. The serviceAgent component typically manages communication protocols and maintains system configuration data that could be valuable to unauthorized parties seeking to understand the network topology or system vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation mechanism of this vulnerability involves crafting a specially formatted TCP query that when sent to the affected device triggers an improper response handling behavior. When the serviceAgent processes this malformed query, it inadvertently reveals system information that should remain confidential. This information disclosure occurs through the device's response mechanism, where the system returns more data than intended, potentially exposing internal system details, configuration parameters, or operational status information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and response handling within the TCP service implementation, allowing attackers to probe beyond normal operational boundaries and extract sensitive data through seemingly legitimate network communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information could enable more sophisticated attacks against the affected network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain insights into the device's internal configuration, network topology, or system architecture, which could then be leveraged for further exploitation attempts. The exposure of sensitive information might include device identifiers, firmware versions, network settings, or other operational parameters that could aid in crafting targeted attacks against the device or its network environment. This information could be particularly valuable to threat actors seeking to identify potential attack vectors or to plan more complex multi-stage attacks against the network infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a reconnaissance tool that could significantly reduce the effort required to compromise the device or adjacent network systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8724 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Moxa to address the underlying implementation flaw in the serviceAgent component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of the affected device to untrusted networks or users. The implementation of network monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous TCP query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of industrial control systems and wireless access points to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving reconnaissance and information gathering phases. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and firewall rules to restrict TCP port access to the affected service, thereby limiting the attack surface and reducing the potential impact of such information disclosure vulnerabilities.