CVE-2017-7649 in Kura
Summary
by MITRE
The network enabled distribution of Kura before 2.1.0 takes control over the device's firewall setup but does not allow IPv6 firewall rules to be configured. Still the Equinox console port 5002 is left open, allowing to log into Kura without any user credentials over unencrypted telnet and executing commands using the Equinox "exec" command. As the process is running as "root" full control over the device can be acquired. IPv6 is also left in auto-configuration mode, accepting router advertisements automatically and assigns a MAC address based IPv6 address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-7649 represents a critical security flaw in the Kura IoT platform version 2.0.0 and earlier, where the network distribution mechanism fails to properly configure firewall rules for IPv6 protocols while leaving critical administrative ports exposed. This issue stems from inadequate network security configuration management within the Kura framework, creating a significant attack surface that allows unauthorized remote access to IoT devices. The vulnerability specifically affects devices running Kura versions prior to 2.1.0, where the firewall configuration process handles IPv4 rules correctly but neglects to implement equivalent protections for IPv6 traffic. This oversight creates a fundamental security gap that directly violates security best practices for network segmentation and access control as defined by cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the Equinox console port 5002 which remains accessible via unencrypted telnet protocol without requiring any authentication credentials. This exposes the underlying Equinox OSGi console to direct command execution through the "exec" command functionality, enabling attackers to gain full administrative control over the device. The process operates with root privileges, meaning that successful exploitation immediately grants complete system control including the ability to modify or delete system files, install malicious software, or alter network configurations. The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access as the absence of proper authentication mechanisms combined with unencrypted communication protocols creates a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks and credential theft. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) while aligning with ATT&CK techniques such as T1021.004 (SSH and Telnet) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) that focus on remote access and privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire IoT deployments, particularly in industrial control systems or smart infrastructure environments where Kura is commonly deployed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, conduct reconnaissance activities, or use compromised devices as launching points for lateral movement within networks. The automatic IPv6 configuration mode further compounds the risk as devices accept router advertisements and assign IPv6 addresses without proper validation, creating additional attack vectors for IPv6-based exploits. Organizations deploying Kura systems face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure, potential data breaches, and operational disruption when devices remain unpatched. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the need for comprehensive network security policies that address both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. Remediation requires immediate patching to version 2.1.0 or later, implementation of proper firewall rules for both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic, disabling of unencrypted telnet services, and deployment of encrypted communication protocols such as SSH for administrative access. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to isolate critical IoT devices and prevent lateral movement of attackers who may have gained initial access through this vulnerability.