CVE-2017-14005 in MultiFLEX M10a Controller
Summary
by MITRE
An Unverified Password Change issue was discovered in ProMinent MultiFLEX M10a Controller web interface. When setting a new password for a user, the application does not require the user to know the original password. An attacker who is authenticated could change a user's password, enabling future access and possible configuration changes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2019
The CVE-2017-14005 vulnerability represents a critical authentication weakness in the ProMinent MultiFLEX M10a Controller web interface that fundamentally undermines the security posture of industrial control systems. This flaw falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and specifically manifests as an improper authorization control where the system fails to validate existing credentials before allowing password modifications. The vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of the MultiFLEX M10a controller, which is commonly deployed in industrial environments for process control and automation. The absence of proper password verification during the change process creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by authenticated threat actors to escalate their privileges and maintain persistent access to critical infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to enforce password verification during the user management process. When an authenticated user attempts to modify another user's password, the system accepts the new password value without requiring confirmation of the current password. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles and creates an authorization bypass scenario where unauthorized password changes can occur. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-308 weakness related to use of a predictable password change mechanism, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1531 for credential access. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through the web interface without requiring additional privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14005 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and operational disruption in industrial environments. An attacker who gains initial authenticated access to the MultiFLEX M10a controller can leverage this vulnerability to change administrator passwords, effectively locking out legitimate users while establishing backdoor access. This capability enables attackers to maintain persistent access to the industrial control system, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, data manipulation, or even physical system interference. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where the MultiFLEX M10a controller manages critical processes, as it provides a pathway for attackers to gain long-term access to operational technology infrastructure. The impact is amplified in environments with limited network segmentation where access to the controller's web interface represents a direct path to operational technology systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14005 should focus on immediate remediation through firmware updates provided by ProMinent, as well as network-level security controls to limit access to the affected web interface. Organizations should implement strict access controls limiting who can access the controller's management interface and consider network segmentation to isolate the industrial control systems from general network access. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication mechanisms in industrial control systems and underscores the need for regular security assessments of operational technology infrastructure. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized password change attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing authentication-related vulnerabilities in industrial environments. Additionally, the vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of applying security patches promptly, as the flaw existed in the affected product for an extended period before remediation became available.