CVE-2017-9645 in DMC 3000 Transmitter Module
Summary
by MITRE
An Inadequate Encryption Strength issue was discovered in Mirion Technologies DMC 3000 Transmitter Module, iPam Transmitter f/DMC 2000, RDS-31 iTX and variants (including RSD31-AM Package), DRM-1/2 and variants (including Solar PWR Package), DRM and RDS Based Boundary Monitors, External Transmitters, Telepole II, and MESH Repeater (Telemetry Enabled Devices). Decryption of data is possible at the hardware level.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9645 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in several telemetry and monitoring devices manufactured by Mirion Technologies. This issue affects a broad range of industrial security equipment including DMC 3000 Transmitter Module, iPam Transmitter f/DMC 2000, RDS-31 iTX variants, DRM-1/2 systems, and various boundary monitoring devices. The flaw stems from inadequate encryption strength that allows for hardware-level decryption of transmitted data, fundamentally compromising the confidentiality of sensitive operational information. This vulnerability exists across multiple product lines and variants, indicating a systemic weakness rather than an isolated incident.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through insufficient cryptographic algorithms and key lengths that fail to meet contemporary security standards. When devices employ weak encryption mechanisms, they become susceptible to various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle attacks, eavesdropping, and data interception. The hardware-level decryption capability suggests that the cryptographic implementation has been compromised at the firmware or hardware level, making it particularly challenging to remediate through software updates alone. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and fails to provide adequate data protection as required by industrial security frameworks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches to potentially compromise entire industrial control systems. Attackers who exploit this weakness can gain access to sensitive telemetry data, operational parameters, and potentially manipulate system behavior through intercepted communications. The affected devices typically operate in critical infrastructure environments where unauthorized access could lead to safety hazards, operational disruptions, or even physical security breaches. The vulnerability affects devices used for boundary monitoring and telemetry, which often contain information about environmental conditions, security status, and operational parameters that could be exploited for malicious purposes.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, additional physical security measures, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The implementation of stronger encryption protocols and regular security assessments becomes essential for maintaining operational integrity. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-327 which addresses broken or weak cryptographic algorithms and relates to ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers data compression and T1566 which covers credential access through network sniffing. The affected systems require comprehensive security audits and potential hardware replacement to address the fundamental cryptographic weaknesses. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be implemented to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, particularly given the industrial nature of these devices and their potential for causing significant operational impact when compromised.