CVE-2018-13816 in TIM 1531 IRC
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in TIM 1531 IRC (All version < V2.0). The devices was missing proper authentication on port 102/tcp, although configured. Successful exploitation requires an attacker to be able to send packets to port 102/tcp of the affected device. No user interaction and no user privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability. At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this vulnerability was known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13816 affects TIM 1531 IRC devices running firmware versions prior to V2.0, representing a critical security flaw in industrial control systems that operates at the network protocol level. This issue stems from improper authentication mechanisms on port 102/tcp, which is traditionally used for the International Telecommunication Union's standard protocol communications. The affected devices are designed for industrial automation and process control environments where security is paramount, yet they fail to implement proper access controls on their communication ports, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise operational technology infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing authentication check on port 102/tcp, which serves as the communication channel for the ITU-T X.224 protocol used in industrial control systems. This protocol typically requires proper authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only legitimate entities can establish connections and transmit commands to industrial devices. The absence of authentication on this port means that any external entity capable of reaching the device over the network can potentially send commands without proper verification, effectively bypassing the device's intended security architecture. This vulnerability falls under CWE-305 Authentication Bypass and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072 Application Protocol Command and Control, where adversaries can leverage unauthenticated communication channels to gain unauthorized access to industrial systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe in industrial environments where TIM 1531 IRC devices control critical processes and equipment. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially manipulate industrial processes, disrupt operations, or cause physical damage to equipment by sending unauthorized commands through the unauthenticated port. The lack of requirement for user interaction or privileges makes this attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be executed automatically without any human intervention. The vulnerability's exposure on port 102/tcp means that attackers could potentially exploit it from external networks, making it a significant concern for industrial networks that may not properly segment their operational technology environments from corporate networks. This flaw could enable attackers to perform reconnaissance, gain persistent access, or execute more sophisticated attacks that leverage the compromised device as a foothold within the industrial control system.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center around upgrading the device firmware to version 2.0 or later, which should contain the proper authentication mechanisms for port 102/tcp. Network administrators should also implement firewall rules to restrict access to port 102/tcp to only authorized systems and networks, effectively blocking unauthorized access attempts. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to isolate industrial control systems from general corporate networks, implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns on port 102/tcp, and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures and monitoring for unauthorized communication attempts to port 102/tcp, as this vulnerability could potentially be exploited as part of a broader attack campaign targeting industrial control systems. The absence of public exploitation at the time of advisory publication does not diminish the severity of this vulnerability, as it represents a fundamental security flaw that could be easily weaponized by threat actors with knowledge of industrial control system protocols.