CVE-2016-8727 in AWK-3131A
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Web Application functionality of Moxa AWK-3131A Wireless Access Point. Retrieving a series of URLs without authentication can reveal sensitive configuration and system information to an attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The CVE-2016-8727 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Moxa AWK-3131A Wireless Access Point's web application interface. This vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms that allow unauthenticated attackers to retrieve sensitive system information through direct URL manipulation. The affected device operates as a wireless access point that provides web-based management capabilities, making it a potential target for network reconnaissance and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the device's ability to properly enforce authentication requirements for sensitive configuration data, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to system internals.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web application's failure to properly validate user authentication status before serving sensitive configuration files and system information. Attackers can construct specific URL requests that bypass the normal authentication flow, allowing them to access administrative interfaces and retrieve data that should only be available to authorized users. This flaw typically manifests through predictable URL patterns that expose system logs, configuration files, network settings, and potentially credential information stored within the device's memory. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the device's web server implementation to serve unauthorized content, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or complex attack vectors to exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8727 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked configuration data can provide attackers with comprehensive insights into the network infrastructure and device management practices. This information can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks, identify additional vulnerabilities within the network, or facilitate lateral movement attacks. The exposure of system information may include device firmware versions, network configuration parameters, user credentials, and other sensitive operational data that can be leveraged for further exploitation. Organizations using affected Moxa devices may experience compromised network security posture, potential regulatory compliance violations, and increased risk of subsequent attacks targeting the exposed system information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Moxa to address the authentication bypass flaw. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and firewall rules to limit access to the device's web management interface, ensuring that only authorized personnel can reach the vulnerable web application. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting administrative access to the device through network segmentation and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network devices and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1087 for account discovery and T1046 for network service scanning, making it a critical concern for network security teams.