CVE-2017-9385 in Veralite
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Vera Veralite 1.7.481 devices. The device has an additional OpenWRT interface in addition to the standard web interface which allows the highest privileges a user can obtain on the device. This web interface uses root as the username and the password in the /etc/cmh/cmh.conf file which can be extracted by an attacker using a directory traversal attack, and then log in to the device with the highest privileges.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9385 affects Vera Veralite 1.7.481 devices, exposing a critical security flaw in the device's authentication mechanism. This issue stems from the presence of an additional OpenWRT interface that operates alongside the standard web interface, creating an unexpected attack surface. The device's security architecture fails to properly isolate administrative access points, allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges through an alternative interface that should not be publicly accessible. This design flaw represents a significant deviation from secure system architecture principles where administrative interfaces should be properly secured and isolated from general user access paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a directory traversal attack that allows attackers to extract the root password from the /etc/cmh/cmh.conf file. This configuration file contains the administrative credentials in plain text format, demonstrating poor security practices in credential storage and access control. The directory traversal vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal file access restrictions and directly retrieve sensitive authentication information. This weakness aligns with CWE-22, which describes directory traversal flaws that allow attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure, and represents a classic example of insecure file handling in embedded systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the device. With root-level access, malicious actors can modify device configurations, install unauthorized software, monitor network traffic, and potentially use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The device becomes a potential entry point for broader network compromise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such devices are connected to corporate networks or critical infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials use, where attackers leverage valid accounts to maintain persistence and escalate privileges within compromised systems.
The security implications extend beyond immediate device compromise as this vulnerability demonstrates fundamental flaws in the device's security architecture. The use of hardcoded credentials in configuration files represents a critical failure in secure credential management practices, violating industry standards for authentication security. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unused interfaces, implementing proper access controls, and ensuring that administrative credentials are not stored in easily accessible locations. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other embedded devices within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure-by-design principles in embedded systems development and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the development lifecycle.