CVE-2017-7919 in XPS-Cx
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Authentication issue was discovered in Newport XPS-Cx and XPS-Qx. An attacker may bypass authentication by accessing a specific uniform resource locator (URL).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7919 represents a critical improper authentication flaw affecting Newport XPS-Cx and XPS-Qx industrial control systems. This weakness stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized parties to gain system access through direct URL manipulation. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices manufactured by Newport Corporation, which are widely used in precision motion control applications across various industrial sectors including manufacturing, research, and automation environments. These systems are typically deployed in sensitive operational contexts where security and access control are paramount to maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized modifications to critical processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the web-based management interface of these industrial devices, where specific URL endpoints lack proper authentication checks. An attacker can exploit this by directly accessing predetermined URLs that would normally require valid credentials or authorization tokens to access. This type of flaw falls under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor access path that bypasses the intended authentication mechanisms, allowing any user with knowledge of the target URLs to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions and system configuration parameters. The flaw demonstrates poor security design principles where the system assumes that legitimate access will be properly authenticated rather than implementing robust verification mechanisms at each access point.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise and operational disruption. Industrial control systems like those manufactured by Newport Corporation are often critical to manufacturing processes, laboratory operations, and automated production lines where unauthorized modifications could result in significant financial losses, safety hazards, or production downtime. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially alter motion control parameters, modify system configurations, or even cause physical damage to equipment through malicious command injection. This represents a serious concern for industrial environments where these systems are integrated into larger operational frameworks and where security is typically considered a critical component of overall system reliability. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7919 should focus on immediate remediation through firmware updates provided by Newport Corporation, as well as network-level security measures to restrict access to these devices. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate these industrial control systems from general network access and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the management interfaces. Additional security controls include implementing strong authentication mechanisms, monitoring access logs for suspicious activity, and conducting regular security assessments of industrial control systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of security by design principles in industrial environments where traditional network security measures may not be sufficient to protect against targeted attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control policies that restrict direct access to administrative interfaces and ensure that all system access is properly authenticated and authorized through established protocols.