CVE-2016-9357 in EAMxxx
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain legacy Eaton ePDUs -- the affected products are past end-of-life (EoL) and no longer supported: EAMxxx prior to June 30, 2015, EMAxxx prior to January 31, 2014, EAMAxx prior to January 31, 2014, EMAAxx prior to January 31, 2014, and ESWAxx prior to January 31, 2014. An unauthenticated attacker may be able to access configuration files with a specially crafted URL (Path Traversal).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9357 affects legacy Eaton ePDUs (Electronic Power Distribution Units) that have reached their end-of-life status, rendering them unsupported and potentially exposing organizations to significant security risks. These affected devices include various model series such as EAMxxx, EMAxxx, EAMAxx, EMAAxx, and ESWAxx with specific end-of-life dates prior to June 30, 2015, or January 31, 2014 for others. The affected products represent a critical category of networked power distribution equipment commonly found in data centers and server rooms where reliable power management is essential for operational continuity. These devices typically provide web-based interfaces for configuration and monitoring purposes, making them accessible over network connections while serving as crucial components in power infrastructure management.
The technical flaw manifests as a path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive configuration files through specially crafted Uniform Resource Locators. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the web interface of the affected Eaton ePDUs, where user-supplied URL parameters are not properly sanitized or validated before being processed. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate file path references in HTTP requests, potentially allowing them to traverse the file system and access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability specifically affects the device's web server implementation, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input that determines which files to serve or access, creating an opportunity for attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the configuration files accessed through path traversal may contain critical system parameters, authentication credentials, network settings, and other sensitive data that could be leveraged for further attacks. Organizations utilizing these legacy devices face potential risks including unauthorized access to power distribution controls, exposure of network infrastructure details, and possible escalation to more severe attacks targeting the broader network environment. The unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require valid credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for devices that may be accessible from untrusted networks or exposed to the internet. This vulnerability represents a significant concern for organizations that have not properly decommissioned or replaced these legacy systems, as they may continue to operate without adequate security controls.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability are largely constrained by the end-of-life status of the affected devices, which means that official patches or updates are unavailable from the vendor. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments, restrict access to the web interfaces through firewall rules, and consider disabling web management interfaces entirely if possible. The recommended approach involves conducting comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected devices within the network infrastructure and implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider replacing these legacy devices with supported models that provide proper input validation and authentication mechanisms, as outlined in industry standards such as the CWE-22 path traversal vulnerability classification. Additionally, the ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the importance of network access controls and the principle of least privilege in mitigating such risks. Given the age of these devices and their unsupported status, the most effective long-term solution involves complete replacement with modern, secure power distribution units that meet current security standards and provide ongoing vendor support.