CVE-2017-9132 in Client Radios
Summary
by MITRE
A hard-coded credentials issue was discovered on Mimosa Client Radios before 2.2.3, Mimosa Backhaul Radios before 2.2.3, and Mimosa Access Points before 2.2.3. These devices run Mosquitto, a lightweight message broker, to send information between devices. By using the vendor's hard-coded credentials to connect to the broker on any device (whether it be an AP, Client, or Backhaul model), an attacker can view all the messages being sent between the devices. If an attacker connects to an AP, the AP will leak information about any clients connected to it, including the serial numbers, which can be used to remotely factory reset the clients via a page in their web interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9132 represents a critical hard-coded credentials flaw affecting Mimosa wireless networking equipment including Client Radios, Backhaul Radios, and Access Points across multiple device models. This security weakness stems from the inclusion of default authentication credentials within the firmware of these devices, specifically within the Mosquitto message broker component that facilitates communication between networked devices. The flaw allows unauthorized parties to gain access to the messaging infrastructure without requiring legitimate authentication, creating a pathway for information disclosure and potential device manipulation. The vulnerability impacts all affected models prior to version 2.2.3, indicating a widespread issue affecting numerous deployments of Mimosa networking hardware.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of hard-coded credentials that remain unchanged throughout the device lifecycle, violating fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-798. When an attacker successfully connects to the Mosquitto broker using these default credentials, they can intercept and monitor all communication traffic between devices within the network. This access provides comprehensive visibility into the messaging infrastructure, enabling the extraction of sensitive operational data. The Mosquitto broker serves as a critical communication layer for these devices, and the hard-coded credentials essentially provide a backdoor that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms entirely. The flaw demonstrates a failure in secure credential management practices, where default passwords are not only present but remain active and accessible across all supported device variants.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential device compromise and unauthorized administrative access. When an attacker connects to an Access Point using the hard-coded credentials, they can obtain detailed information about client devices connected to that access point, including serial numbers and other identifying information. This leakage of client data creates opportunities for further attacks including the exploitation of device-specific vulnerabilities, particularly the ability to remotely factory reset client devices through web interface administrative functions. The implications are particularly severe for wireless network deployments where these devices operate in sensitive environments, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring physical access or advanced technical knowledge. The attack surface is significantly expanded since any device within the network can be used as a potential entry point for reconnaissance and further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9132 require immediate firmware updates to versions 2.2.3 or later, which address the hard-coded credentials issue by implementing proper authentication mechanisms. Network administrators should also conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices within their deployments and ensure proper credential management practices are implemented. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as the hard-coded credentials essentially provide unauthorized access to legitimate network components. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to the Mosquitto broker ports and consider segmenting affected networks to limit potential impact. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated firmware to ensure that the security fixes do not introduce compatibility issues with existing network configurations, and administrators should verify that default credentials are properly disabled or changed during the update process to prevent recurrence of similar issues.