CVE-2017-20048 in P1204
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2022
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in AXIS P1204, P3225, P3367, M3045, M3005 and M3007. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Script Editor. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20048 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting multiple AXIS network camera models including P1204, P3225, P3367, M3045, M3005, and M3007. This weakness resides within the Script Editor component of these devices, which serves as a web-based interface for configuring automated scripts and workflows. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of HTTP requests originating from authenticated sessions, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the device's functionality through forged requests. The flaw specifically impacts the web management interface of these surveillance devices, which are widely deployed in enterprise and industrial environments for security monitoring and access control purposes.
The technical implementation of this cross-site request forgery vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. When a user accesses the affected AXIS camera's web interface, the device fails to properly validate the origin of HTTP requests, particularly those related to script execution and configuration changes. This weakness allows an attacker to craft malicious web pages or send specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated user, trigger unintended operations within the camera's Script Editor functionality. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable, meaning attackers do not require physical access or network-level privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these devices are accessible from external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable complete compromise of the affected surveillance infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could potentially modify existing scripts, create new malicious scripts, or disable critical security features within the camera's configuration. This capability could result in data exfiltration, unauthorized surveillance activities, or complete disruption of security monitoring operations. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly used in critical infrastructure environments, including industrial control systems, financial institutions, and government facilities, where the compromise of surveillance equipment could have severe consequences for security operations and regulatory compliance. The public disclosure of exploitation techniques further amplifies the risk, as threat actors can readily implement attacks against unpatched systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability, including upgrading to patched firmware versions provided by AXIS Communications. The affected devices should be isolated from untrusted networks and access should be restricted through network segmentation and firewall rules. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other networked devices and systems.