CVE-2017-6038 in GECKO Lite Managed Switch
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-Site Request Forgery issue was discovered in Belden Hirschmann GECKO Lite Managed switch, Version 2.0.00 and prior versions. The web application does not sufficiently verify that requests were provided by the user who submitted the request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2019
The CVE-2017-6038 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in Belden Hirschmann GECKO Lite Managed switch firmware versions 2.0.00 and earlier. This flaw resides within the web-based management interface of the network switch, which serves as the primary means for administrators to configure and monitor the device's operational parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly authenticate and verify the origin of HTTP requests submitted through the web interface. This weakness allows malicious actors to exploit the lack of proper request verification to execute unauthorized administrative actions on behalf of legitimate users who are authenticated to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in implementing proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the web application layer of the switch's firmware. When administrators interact with the management interface, the system should validate that requests originate from the authenticated user session and contain appropriate tokens to prevent unauthorized operations. Without these safeguards, an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the switch's web server, effectively bypassing the authentication and authorization controls that should protect administrative functions. This issue falls under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which specifically addresses vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate the source of requests and do not properly implement anti-CSRF protections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures managed by the affected switches. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify network configurations, alter access controls, disable security features, or even redirect traffic through unauthorized routing changes. The implications are particularly severe in industrial network environments where these switches often serve as critical components in operational technology infrastructure, potentially affecting production systems and safety-critical operations. The vulnerability is classified as a high-risk issue under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to privilege escalation and persistence tactics that attackers can leverage to maintain long-term access to network resources.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address the CSRF validation weaknesses, network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and enhanced monitoring of administrative activities. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, restricting administrative interface access to specific IP addresses, and deploying network access control policies that limit the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in network device firmware, particularly in industrial environments where security controls must be robust against sophisticated attacks. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure components should include verification of CSRF protections in web-based management interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in operational technology environments.