CVE-2017-5239 in EV-07S
Summary
by MITRE
Due to a lack of standard encryption when transmitting sensitive information over the internet to a centralized monitoring service, the Eview EV-07S GPS Tracker discloses personally identifying information, such as GPS data and IMEI numbers, to any man-in-the-middle (MitM) listener.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2020
The CVE-2017-5239 vulnerability affects the Eview EV-07S GPS Tracker device, exposing a critical flaw in its communication security protocols. This device, designed for asset tracking and monitoring, fails to implement proper encryption standards when transmitting sensitive data to centralized monitoring services. The vulnerability stems from the device's reliance on unencrypted communication channels, which creates an exploitable attack surface for malicious actors positioned within the network infrastructure. The lack of encryption means that all transmitted data, including GPS coordinates, device identifiers, and potentially other personal information, flows in plaintext across network connections, making it accessible to any entity capable of intercepting the communication stream.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure communication design, where the device does not employ industry-standard encryption protocols such as TLS or SSL for data transmission. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks without requiring sophisticated technical capabilities or specialized equipment. The vulnerability specifically targets the transmission of personally identifiable information including IMEI numbers, which serve as unique device identifiers that can be used for tracking, device identification, and potentially malicious activities such as SIM card swapping or device impersonation. The absence of encryption mechanisms such as those specified in CWE-310 - Cryptographic Issues or CWE-311 - Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data creates a direct pathway for data exposure during transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating significant risks for device users and organizations relying on GPS tracking services. The disclosure of GPS data enables precise location tracking of assets, individuals, or vehicles, potentially leading to privacy violations, unauthorized surveillance, and location-based threats. IMEI number exposure increases the risk of device-related attacks, as these identifiers can be used to identify specific device models and potentially exploit known vulnerabilities in particular device firmware versions. The vulnerability affects any organization or individual using the Eview EV-07S device for tracking purposes, particularly those operating in environments where network traffic interception is possible, such as public Wi-Fi networks, unsecured cellular connections, or corporate networks with insufficient traffic monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate communication security gaps and the broader security architecture of the tracking system. Organizations should implement network-level protections including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and traffic monitoring to detect potential interception attempts. The device firmware should be updated to enforce encrypted communication protocols, with proper certificate validation mechanisms to prevent certificate spoofing attacks. Network administrators should consider implementing secure communication channels such as VPN connections for data transmission, ensuring that all sensitive data flows through encrypted tunnels. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other IoT devices within the network infrastructure, as this represents a common pattern in IoT security failures that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 - Exfiltration Over C2 Channel. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing secure-by-design principles and adheres to security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 control SC-8 - Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity, which specifically addresses the need for encryption during data transmission to protect against unauthorized access and disclosure.