CVE-2018-16671 in CirCarLife
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in CIRCONTROL CirCarLife before 4.3. There is system software information disclosure due to lack of authentication for /html/device-id.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16671 affects the CIRCONTROL CirCarLife system software version prior to 4.3, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security posture of connected vehicle systems. This issue stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms within the device management interface, specifically exposing the /html/device-id endpoint without proper access controls. The vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication or missing authentication checks, which aligns with CWE-305 authentication flaws and potentially CWE-200 information exposure. The affected system operates within the automotive cybersecurity domain, where vehicle telematics and connectivity systems present unique attack surface considerations that require robust security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive device identification information through a straightforward web interface endpoint. The /html/device-id path serves as an entry point that reveals critical system metadata including device identifiers, serial numbers, and potentially other system configuration details that should remain protected. This information disclosure represents a significant risk to vehicle security as device identifiers can be used for tracking, correlation attacks, or as part of broader reconnaissance efforts. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege where sensitive system information is accessible without proper authentication mechanisms, creating opportunities for adversaries to gather intelligence about deployed systems.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the confidentiality of device-specific information that could enable attackers to conduct targeted attacks against specific vehicle models or deployment configurations. The exposed device identifiers may facilitate supply chain attacks, enable device fingerprinting for future exploitation, or support coordinated attacks across multiple vehicles. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with foundational data that can be combined with other reconnaissance activities to plan more sophisticated attacks. This issue particularly affects automotive systems where device identifiers are used for tracking, diagnostics, and management purposes, making them valuable targets for threat actors.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper authentication controls for the affected endpoint, ensuring that all system management interfaces require appropriate credentials before granting access to device information. The solution involves implementing robust authentication mechanisms including strong credential management, access control lists, and proper session handling for the /html/device-id endpoint. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their automotive telematics systems to identify similar vulnerabilities in other management interfaces. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 for system information discovery and addresses the broader category of credential access and information gathering activities that threaten connected vehicle ecosystems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies for automotive cybersecurity, where multiple layers of protection are necessary to secure vehicle communication and management systems against increasingly sophisticated threats.