CVE-2018-10696 in AWK-3121
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Moxa AWK-3121 1.14 devices. The device provides a web interface to allow an administrator to manage the device. However, this interface is not protected against CSRF attacks, which allows an attacker to trick an administrator into executing actions without his/her knowledge, as demonstrated by the forms/iw_webSetParameters and forms/webSetMainRestart URIs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10696 affects Moxa AWK-3121 devices running firmware version 1.14, representing a critical security flaw in industrial network infrastructure equipment. This device serves as a wireless access point and router, commonly deployed in industrial environments where network reliability and security are paramount. The issue stems from inadequate cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms within the web-based management interface, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise operational technology systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts the device's administrative web interface, which is designed to provide authorized users with configuration and management capabilities for the wireless network infrastructure.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the web interface's failure to validate the origin of HTTP requests originating from the management interface. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to the device's management endpoints. The attack vector specifically targets two URI endpoints: forms/iw_webSetParameters and forms/webSetMainRestart, which are critical administrative functions that can modify wireless network parameters or restart the device entirely. The absence of anti-CSRF tokens or referer validation mechanisms means that legitimate administrative actions can be executed without the administrator's explicit consent, effectively bypassing the authentication and authorization controls that should protect these sensitive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform destructive actions that could disrupt industrial network operations. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to modify wireless network settings, potentially creating network partitions or redirecting traffic to malicious endpoints. The device restart functionality poses additional risks, as unauthorized device restarts could cause denial of service conditions in industrial environments where continuous network availability is critical. These attacks could be particularly damaging in environments where the Moxa device serves as a critical communication link between field devices and central control systems, potentially leading to operational disruptions that could affect production processes or safety systems. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain secure administrative sessions and could enable attackers to establish persistent access to the industrial network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the web interface, including the deployment of anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative functions and validation of request origins. Network administrators should ensure that the device firmware is updated to the latest version provided by Moxa, as the vendor likely released patches addressing this specific weakness. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate the device from critical operational systems, deploying network access controls to restrict administrative access to trusted IP addresses, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoints. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and represents a significant concern for industrial control systems where the potential for operational disruption is high. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence within industrial environments, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls that protect both administrative interfaces and operational technology infrastructure.