CVE-2018-12926 in Controls
Summary
by MITRE
Pharos Controls devices allow remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via a direct request for the default/index.lsp or default/log.lsp URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12926 affects Pharos Controls devices and represents a significant information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system data to remote attackers. This vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the web interface of these industrial control systems, specifically targeting the default/index.lsp and default/log.lsp URI endpoints. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to directly access sensitive information without requiring any credentials or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous in operational technology environments where such devices are deployed.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to CWE-352, representing cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities that can lead to unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw exists because the web server component of Pharos Controls devices does not properly validate access requests to the specified URI endpoints, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely. When an attacker sends a direct HTTP request to default/index.lsp or default/log.lsp, the system responds with potentially sensitive data including system configuration details, user information, or operational logs that should remain protected within the internal network environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used for subsequent attacks within the network. The exposed information may include device firmware versions, system configurations, user accounts, operational parameters, or log files containing timestamps and operational activities that could reveal critical infrastructure details. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems where security through obscurity is not sufficient protection, and where attackers can leverage this information to plan more sophisticated attacks against the operational technology infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited from any location with network access to the affected devices, making it a critical concern for organizations deploying these systems in production environments.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1083 for discovering files and directories and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers can systematically enumerate these endpoints to gather intelligence. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where the system exposes administrative functions without proper authentication checks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate these devices from general network access, deploying firewalls to block access to the vulnerable URI endpoints, and applying vendor-provided patches or firmware updates. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other industrial control systems, as this represents a common pattern in OT environments where legacy security measures may not adequately protect against modern attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in industrial environments where network security should not rely solely on network segmentation or device location but must include robust authentication and authorization mechanisms.