CVE-2017-2125 in AR260S
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege escalation vulnerability in CentreCOM AR260S V2 remote authenticated attackers to gain privileges via the guest account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2020
The CVE-2017-2125 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the CentreCOM AR260S V2 network security device, specifically affecting remote authenticated users who can leverage a guest account to elevate their privileges. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the device's web interface, where improper access control validation allows attackers to bypass normal security restrictions. The flaw specifically targets the guest account functionality, which should typically provide limited access but instead enables full administrative privileges through a design oversight in the privilege management system. The vulnerability impacts the device's core security model by undermining the principle of least privilege, where users should only have access to resources necessary for their role. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to escalate from a guest level account to full administrative control without proper authentication, effectively compromising the entire device's security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege checking within the CentreCOM AR260S V2 firmware. When a user authenticates through the web interface using guest credentials, the system fails to properly validate whether the guest account should be granted elevated privileges during specific administrative operations. This flaw likely exists in the session management code where privilege levels are not properly verified before executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only remote authenticated access, meaning an attacker does not need physical access or specialized tools beyond standard network reconnaissance and credential acquisition. The implementation follows patterns consistent with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in authentication systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1484 for Domain Controller Privilege Escalation. The device's web server component processes guest account requests without proper privilege verification, creating a direct path for privilege escalation through malformed or improperly validated session tokens.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2125 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables complete compromise of the CentreCOM AR260S V2 device and potentially the entire network it protects. Once an attacker escalates privileges, they can modify firewall rules, configure network policies, access sensitive logs, and potentially redirect traffic through the device to other network segments. This vulnerability effectively transforms a network security device into an attack platform, as the compromised device can then be used to conduct lateral movement attacks, data exfiltration, or serve as a pivot point for further network penetration. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, provided they can obtain valid guest account credentials through social engineering, credential reuse, or other means. Organizations using this device face significant risk of unauthorized network access, potential data breaches, and complete loss of network security control. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements for network security, as it creates a pathway for attackers to bypass security controls that should protect sensitive data and maintain network integrity. The affected device architecture makes it particularly vulnerable since the web interface serves as the primary management point, and guest accounts are often used for temporary access, making this attack vector particularly accessible to threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2125 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Organizations should immediately disable guest accounts on affected CentreCOM AR260S V2 devices or implement strict access controls that prevent privilege escalation from guest accounts. The most effective immediate fix involves updating the device firmware to a version that properly validates privilege levels during authentication and session management operations. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unusual authentication patterns or privilege escalation attempts. Security controls should include disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, implementing strong access controls for administrative accounts, and ensuring that guest accounts are properly restricted in their access capabilities. The solution must align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for access control and privilege management. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of any successful exploitation, ensuring that even if an attacker compromises one device, they cannot easily move laterally through the network. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in other network devices, as this type of flaw is common in network security appliances where complex authentication and authorization systems are implemented. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper privilege validation in network device firmware development, emphasizing the need for security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.