CVE-2018-11720 in PC2
Summary
by MITRE
Xovis PC2, PC2R, and PC3 devices through 3.6.0 allow Directory Traversal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11720 affects Xovis security devices including PC2, PC2R, and PC3 models running firmware versions up to 3.6.0. These devices are network-based video security systems commonly deployed in enterprise and industrial environments for surveillance and access control purposes. The affected devices are manufactured by Xovis, a company specializing in video analytics and security solutions for physical security applications. This directory traversal vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive system files and data stored on the affected devices.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the device's web interface and file handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious HTTP requests that contain directory traversal sequences such as "../" or "..\\" in file paths. The vulnerability exists because the device fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing file operations, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access files that should remain restricted. This weakness enables attackers to read arbitrary files on the device's file system, potentially including configuration files, authentication credentials, system logs, and other sensitive data. The vulnerability is classified as a directory traversal attack pattern that aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Xovis security devices for physical security infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive configuration files that might contain network credentials, encryption keys, or system settings that could be used to escalate privileges or compromise additional network resources. The vulnerability could also allow attackers to read system logs and other forensic data that might reveal network topology, security configurations, or operational procedures. Additionally, the ability to read arbitrary files could potentially lead to information disclosure attacks that might expose proprietary data or intellectual property stored on the devices. Organizations using these devices in critical infrastructure environments face increased risk of security breaches that could compromise their physical security systems and potentially lead to unauthorized access to protected facilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Xovis to address the directory traversal flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices to only authorized personnel and systems. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, implementing strict access controls for the web interface, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Xovis devices and review system logs for any signs of unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper access controls in embedded security systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1083 for file and directory traversal. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked security devices within the organization's infrastructure.