CVE-2017-14262 in NVR
Summary
by MITRE
On Samsung NVR devices, remote attackers can read the MD5 password hash of the 'admin' account via certain szUserName JSON data to cgi-bin/main-cgi, and login to the device with that hash in the szUserPasswd parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-14262 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting Samsung Network Video Recorder devices that operates through improper input validation and insecure credential handling mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of Samsung NVR systems, specifically in the cgi-bin/main-cgi endpoint where the szUserName parameter processes JSON data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted JSON requests containing the szUserName field with the value 'admin', which triggers the system to return the MD5 hash of the administrator account password. The flaw demonstrates poor security design principles where sensitive authentication data is exposed through unintended API endpoints without proper access controls or authentication requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate parameter validation and insufficient input sanitization within the Samsung NVR's web server component. When the system receives a request containing the szUserName parameter set to 'admin', it fails to properly verify the request source or validate the legitimacy of the request before returning authentication data. This behavior violates fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-312, which covers cleartext storage and transmission of sensitive data. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication subsystem where the system should have enforced proper access controls and authentication mechanisms before exposing sensitive credential information. The MD5 hash exposure through this unauthenticated API endpoint creates a direct path for credential compromise attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14262 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables full administrative access to the NVR device without requiring legitimate credentials or prior authentication. Once attackers obtain the MD5 hash, they can directly submit it in the szUserPasswd parameter to gain complete control over the device, including access to video feeds, configuration settings, user management, and system logs. This vulnerability affects organizations relying on Samsung NVR systems for security monitoring and surveillance operations, potentially compromising their entire security infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the devices, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and industrial security deployments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Samsung addressing the specific input validation flaws in the web interface components. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to NVR management interfaces to authorized personnel only, while also deploying network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious API access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication and disabling unnecessary web management interfaces when not required. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1046 which covers network service scanning, as attackers can use this weakness to establish persistent access to network video surveillance systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of networked security devices should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other systems, particularly those implementing similar web-based management interfaces.