CVE-2017-20049 in P1204
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2022
A vulnerability, was found in legacy Axis devices such as P3225 and M3005. This affects an unknown part of the component CGI Script. The manipulation leads to improper privilege management. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2022
This vulnerability resides within legacy Axis network video surveillance devices including models P3225 and M3005, specifically targeting the CGI Script component that handles web-based administrative functions. The flaw represents a critical privilege management failure that allows unauthorized remote exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for security-conscious environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the web interface scripting layer, where proper authentication and authorization checks are either missing or inadequately implemented. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software components, specifically highlighting the weakness in privilege management controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote manipulation of the CGI scripts that process administrative requests within the device's web interface. Attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges without proper authentication, potentially gaining full administrative control over the surveillance equipment. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from outside the local network perimeter, eliminating the need for physical access or internal network presence. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to cybercriminals seeking to compromise surveillance infrastructure. The issue is further compounded by the legacy nature of the affected devices, which may not receive regular security updates or patches from the vendor, leaving them permanently exposed to this vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised surveillance devices can be used as entry points for broader network infiltration. Once an attacker gains administrative control, they can modify video feeds, disable security features, access stored recordings, or even use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the same network segment. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on these devices for security monitoring, as the compromise of a single device can lead to complete surveillance system failure. The implications are further exacerbated in environments where these devices are connected to critical infrastructure or sensitive areas, where the loss of security monitoring capabilities could have serious operational consequences.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation strategies to isolate affected Axis devices from critical systems, while also considering the deployment of network monitoring tools to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The most effective mitigations include applying vendor-provided patches if available, though given the legacy nature of these devices, this may not always be feasible. Network access controls should be implemented to restrict remote access to these devices, and administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all affected hardware within their environments. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for known exploitation patterns targeting CGI scripts can provide early warning capabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote access tools, making it a significant concern for organizations following the MITRE ATT&CK methodology for threat analysis and defense planning.