CVE-2018-16669 in CirCarLife
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in CIRCONTROL Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) before 1.5.0, as used in CirCarLife, PowerStudio, and other products. Due to storage of credentials in XML files, an unprivileged user can look at /services/config/config.xml for the admin credentials of the ocpp and circarlife panels.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16669 represents a critical security flaw in the CIRCONTROL Open Charge Point Protocol implementation affecting versions prior to 1.5.0. This issue specifically impacts products such as CirCarLife and PowerStudio, which utilize the OCPP protocol for managing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from improper credential storage practices where administrative authentication details are persistently stored within XML configuration files, creating an exploitable weakness in the system's security architecture. This misconfiguration fundamentally undermines the security model of the charging management platform by making sensitive administrative credentials readily accessible to any user with filesystem access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct file system access to the /services/config/config.xml path where the administrative credentials are stored in plaintext format. This represents a classic case of insecure credential storage that violates fundamental security principles and aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information). The flaw enables an unprivileged local user to gain unauthorized administrative access to the OCPP and CirCarLife panels, effectively compromising the entire charging infrastructure management system. The vulnerability exists at the application level within the configuration management subsystem and demonstrates a lack of proper access controls and privilege separation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the charging infrastructure. This includes the ability to modify charging parameters, access usage data, manipulate billing information, and potentially disrupt charging services for multiple users. The exposure of administrative credentials through plaintext storage creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the system is properly updated and patched. The vulnerability affects not just individual installations but represents a systemic security weakness that could impact numerous charging stations across different deployments, particularly in commercial and public charging networks where such systems are widely deployed.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement remediation measures including updating to CIRCONTROL OCPP version 1.5.0 or later, which addresses the insecure credential storage issue. System administrators must also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any other potential credential storage vulnerabilities within the infrastructure and implement proper access controls to limit filesystem access to authorized personnel only. The implementation of encryption for configuration files and the adoption of secure credential management practices should be prioritized to prevent similar issues in the future. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of following security best practices in embedded systems and IoT deployments, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors where unauthorized access could have significant operational and safety implications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights can create substantial security risks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and adherence to established security frameworks such as those recommended by NIST and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.