CVE-2017-5164 in Universal Multifunctional Electric Power Quality Meter
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in BINOM3 Universal Multifunctional Electric Power Quality Meter. Input sent from a malicious client is not properly verified by the server. An attacker can execute arbitrary script code in another user's browser session (CROSS-SITE SCRIPTING).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5164 affects the BINOM3 Universal Multifunctional Electric Power Quality Meter, a device commonly used in industrial and commercial power monitoring applications. This device operates as a web-based interface for power quality measurement and data visualization, making it accessible through standard web browsers. The security flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the server-side processing components of the device's web interface, creating a critical pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw that allows remote code execution within victim browser sessions. When a malicious client sends specially crafted input data to the power quality meter's web server, the device fails to properly sanitize or validate this input before processing or displaying it. This validation failure creates a persistent XSS vector where attacker-controlled scripts can be injected into the device's web interface and subsequently executed in the context of other users who access the compromised system. The vulnerability specifically resides in the server's handling of user-supplied data, which is processed without adequate security controls to prevent malicious content injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to power monitoring systems that are critical for industrial operations. An attacker could potentially manipulate power quality data, disrupt monitoring capabilities, or even gain deeper access to connected systems through the compromised device. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate device but also creates potential risks for broader network security, as power quality meters often serve as entry points for industrial control systems. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where these devices are connected to internal networks without proper network segmentation, allowing lateral movement from the compromised monitoring device to other critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the device's web interface. The device firmware should be updated to include proper sanitization of all user-supplied inputs, with specific attention to HTML and JavaScript content that could be interpreted by web browsers. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the power quality meters from critical internal systems, and access controls should be strengthened to limit who can interact with the device's web interface. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious input patterns, and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant concern for industrial control system security, particularly when considering the ATT&CK framework's relevance to industrial network compromise scenarios where initial access often begins through web-based interfaces.