CVE-2017-7915 in OnCell G3110
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts issue was discovered in Moxa OnCell G3110-HSPA Version 1.3 build 15082117 and previous versions, OnCell G3110-HSDPA Version 1.2 Build 09123015 and previous versions, OnCell G3150-HSDPA Version 1.4 Build 11051315 and previous versions, OnCell 5104-HSDPA, OnCell 5104-HSPA, and OnCell 5004-HSPA. An attacker can freely use brute force to determine parameters needed to bypass authentication.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-7915 represents a critical weakness in the authentication mechanism of Moxa OnCell cellular gateway devices, specifically affecting multiple models including the G3110-HSPA, G3110-HSDPA, G3150-HSDPA, and various 5104 and 5004 series devices. This issue falls under the category of improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts, which is classified as CWE-307 and aligns with the broader ATT&CK technique of Credential Access through Brute Force. The affected firmware versions demonstrate a fundamental flaw in the device's security architecture where there are no effective rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms to prevent repeated authentication attempts.
The technical flaw manifests as the absence of any protective measures against brute force attacks, allowing unauthorized users to continuously attempt authentication with different credential combinations without facing any form of account lockout, temporary suspension, or rate limiting. This vulnerability exists across multiple firmware versions and device models, indicating a systemic design weakness rather than an isolated incident. The lack of authentication attempt monitoring and restriction means that attackers can systematically work through password dictionaries, username lists, or other credential combinations without encountering any barriers that would typically slow down or prevent such automated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it directly enables unauthorized access to network management interfaces and potentially to the underlying cellular connections. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full administrative control over the device, which would allow them to modify network configurations, intercept communications, redirect traffic, or even use the device as a pivot point for attacks against other systems within the network. This represents a significant risk for industrial control systems, remote monitoring applications, and any environment where these devices are deployed for critical infrastructure management.
The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as these devices often serve as gateways to larger network infrastructures and may be used in environments where security is paramount. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly deployed in industrial settings, remote monitoring applications, and mobile network access points, where the compromise of a single device can have cascading effects on overall network security. Organizations using these devices should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and deploying additional security controls to compensate for the lack of built-in protection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates where available, network-based rate limiting to prevent excessive authentication attempts from specific IP addresses, implementation of network access control lists to restrict management interface access, and deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms, network segmentation to isolate these devices, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network equipment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication design and the necessity of implementing robust rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms as fundamental security controls in network infrastructure devices, particularly those operating in environments where unauthorized access could have significant operational or security implications.