CVE-2017-9632 in LaserWash G5
Summary
by MITRE
A Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data issue was discovered in PDQ Manufacturing LaserWash G5 and G5 S Series all versions, LaserWash M5, all versions, LaserWash 360 and 360 Plus, all versions, LaserWash AutoXpress and AutoExpress Plus, all versions, LaserJet, all versions, ProTouch Tandem, all versions, ProTouch ICON, all versions, and ProTouch AutoGloss, all versions. The username and password are transmitted insecurely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9632 represents a critical weakness in multiple PDQ Manufacturing laser washing and coating systems that exposes sensitive authentication credentials during network communication. This issue affects a comprehensive range of industrial equipment including various G5 and G5 S Series models, M5 series, 360 and 360 Plus systems, AutoXpress and AutoExpress Plus units, LaserJet devices, ProTouch Tandem, ProTouch ICON, and ProTouch AutoGloss models across all software versions. The fundamental problem lies in the absence of proper encryption mechanisms for transmitting authentication data, creating an exploitable condition that violates established security protocols.
This vulnerability constitutes a direct violation of the CWE-312 weakness category, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper encryption or lack of encryption. The technical flaw manifests as unencrypted transmission of username and password credentials over network connections, making these authentication details susceptible to interception by malicious actors. The absence of encryption means that any network traffic containing login information can be captured and decoded using standard network monitoring tools, effectively rendering the authentication mechanism useless from a security perspective. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and represents a failure in implementing secure communication protocols during authentication processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates potential for complete system compromise and unauthorized access to industrial control systems. Attackers who intercept the unencrypted credentials can gain administrative access to these laser washing and coating systems, potentially leading to production disruption, data manipulation, or unauthorized modifications to operational parameters. The vulnerability affects industrial environments where these systems operate, including manufacturing facilities, automotive production lines, and other industrial settings where process control and data integrity are paramount. The widespread nature of affected models increases the potential attack surface significantly, as multiple system types within the same facility could be compromised simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of encryption protocols for all network communications involving authentication data. Organizations should deploy secure communication channels using protocols such as TLS 1.2 or higher for all network traffic between client systems and the affected PDQ devices. Network administrators must ensure that all authentication credentials are transmitted over encrypted channels and that legacy systems are updated to support modern security protocols. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can help limit the impact if credentials are compromised, while regular security audits should verify that encryption is properly configured and maintained. Additionally, vendors should provide firmware updates that address the encryption deficiency and ensure that all affected systems receive timely security patches to remediate this vulnerability.