CVE-2017-7916 in VSN300 WiFi Logger Card
Summary
by MITRE
A Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls issue was discovered in ABB VSN300 WiFi Logger Card versions 1.8.15 and prior, and VSN300 WiFi Logger Card for React versions 2.1.3 and prior. The web application does not properly restrict privileges of the Guest account. A malicious user may be able to gain access to configuration information that should be restricted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7916 represents a critical permissions and access control flaw within ABB VSN300 WiFi Logger Card firmware versions 1.8.15 and earlier, as well as the VSN300 WiFi Logger Card for React versions 2.1.3 and earlier. This issue resides in the web application layer of the device's software architecture and fundamentally undermines the security model designed to protect sensitive configuration data. The flaw specifically affects the Guest account privileges, which should normally operate with restricted access but instead allows unauthorized users to bypass intended security boundaries. This represents a classic violation of the principle of least privilege, where users are granted more access rights than necessary for their operational role. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's authentication and authorization framework, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the web application's privilege management system where guest accounts are not properly constrained in their access capabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access configuration information that should be restricted to authorized administrative users only, potentially including network settings, user credentials, system parameters, and other sensitive operational data. The flaw exists because the application does not adequately validate user permissions before granting access to restricted resources, allowing the guest account to traverse access control boundaries that should normally prevent such data exposure. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and specifically manifests as a weakness in the authorization mechanism where access control decisions are not properly enforced. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects networked industrial devices, where unauthorized access to configuration data could lead to broader system compromise or operational disruption.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-7916 extend beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks within industrial control environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain insights into network topology, device configuration, and potentially access credentials that might be used to compromise additional systems within the same network segment. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial environments where ABB VSN300 devices are deployed for monitoring and data logging purposes, creating risks for critical infrastructure operations. The exposure of configuration information could enable attackers to craft more targeted attacks against the device or adjacent systems, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or unauthorized modification of logging parameters. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access patterns, as it allows unauthorized users to gain elevated access to restricted system information that would normally be protected. The risk is particularly concerning in environments where these devices are connected to operational technology networks, as unauthorized access could disrupt critical monitoring functions or provide attackers with intelligence for more extensive attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address the privilege control issues, network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical systems, and enhanced monitoring of access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should involve comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all ABB VSN300 devices within the network infrastructure, with particular attention to ensuring that guest account privileges are properly restricted. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that default accounts are disabled or have restricted access, and that access controls are properly enforced through proper authentication mechanisms. Network access control lists should be implemented to limit access to these devices to authorized personnel only, and regular security audits should be conducted to verify that access control mechanisms remain properly configured. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual access patterns or attempts to access restricted configuration data, as these activities may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The implementation of these mitigations aligns with NIST cybersecurity framework recommendations for protecting industrial control systems and addresses the fundamental access control weaknesses that make this vulnerability exploitable.