CVE-2017-9940 in SiPass integrated
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was discovered in Siemens SiPass integrated (All versions before V2.70) that could allow an attacker with access to a low-privileged user account to read or write files on the file system of the SiPass integrated server over the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9940 affects Siemens SiPass integrated access control systems, specifically versions prior to V2.70. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of physical security infrastructure. The affected system operates as an integrated access control solution that manages employee and visitor access to secured facilities, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized system access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the system's network interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate file system operations remotely.
This vulnerability manifests as a lack of proper authentication and authorization checks when processing network requests to the SiPass integrated server. Attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary file read and write operations on the underlying file system. The technical implementation appears to suffer from insufficient validation of user inputs and improper privilege escalation controls, allowing low-privileged accounts to bypass normal access restrictions. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring physical access to the system. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The vulnerability also exhibits characteristics of CWE-79, representing cross-site scripting, though in this case the impact occurs within the system's own file system rather than web interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9940 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with complete control over the access control system's configuration files, user databases, and operational logs. This level of access enables adversaries to modify access permissions, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, or completely disable the security system. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on SiPass integrated systems for critical infrastructure protection, as attackers could potentially gain physical access to secured facilities or compromise the integrity of the entire access control infrastructure. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can modify system files to hide their activities while maintaining persistent access to the environment.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to SiPass integrated V2.70 or later versions, which contain the necessary security patches to address the vulnerability. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the access control system from general network traffic, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, regular file integrity monitoring, and network intrusion detection systems should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security audits should verify that no unauthorized modifications have occurred and that proper access controls are enforced throughout the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for industrial control systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments of physical security infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls that restrict communication to only necessary ports and protocols, reducing the likelihood of exploitation through this and similar vulnerabilities.