CVE-2018-17765 in Telium 2
Summary
by MITRE
Ingenico Telium 2 POS terminals have undeclared TRACE protocol commands. This is fixed in Telium 2 SDK v9.32.03 patch N.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2020
The CVE-2018-17765 vulnerability affects Ingenico Telium 2 point of sale terminals which implement the TRACE protocol with undocumented command sets. This represents a significant security flaw in the terminal's communication stack where certain TRACE protocol commands are not properly declared or documented in the official specifications. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of the TRACE protocol on these payment terminals, which allows for extended diagnostic and communication capabilities beyond standard payment processing functions. The presence of undeclared commands creates a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to terminal functions or manipulate payment processing operations. The TRACE protocol is typically used for diagnostic purposes and communication testing within networked systems, but when implemented with undocumented commands, it introduces unpredictable behavior and security risks that are not accounted for in standard security assessments. This issue specifically impacts the Telium 2 platform which is widely deployed in retail and hospitality environments where payment security is paramount.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper implementation of TRACE protocol commands within the Ingenico Telium 2 terminal firmware. These undeclared commands are not properly documented in the official SDK specifications, creating a scenario where developers and security professionals cannot adequately assess the security implications of these functions. The vulnerability allows for potential command injection or manipulation of terminal operations through these undocumented TRACE protocol interfaces. The root cause lies in the firmware implementation where certain protocol commands are accessible but not properly secured or validated, enabling unauthorized access to terminal functions that should remain restricted. This represents a violation of the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-119 which deals with improper restriction of operations within a recognized security boundary, and also relates to CWE-20 which covers improper input validation. The implementation of these commands without proper security controls creates a path for potential privilege escalation or unauthorized system manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple security concerns to encompass potential financial fraud, data compromise, and system integrity violations within payment processing environments. Attackers could potentially exploit these undocumented commands to manipulate transaction processing, access sensitive payment data, or gain unauthorized administrative access to the terminal. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in retail environments where payment terminals are often located in public spaces with limited physical security controls. The potential for unauthorized access to payment processing functions could result in transaction manipulation, data theft, or system disruption that could affect both merchants and consumers. The impact is further amplified by the widespread deployment of Telium 2 terminals across various industries, making this vulnerability applicable to a large number of payment processing systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of commands through protocol interfaces that are not properly secured or documented.
The fix for this vulnerability requires implementing the Telium 2 SDK v9.32.03 patch N which properly addresses the undeclared TRACE protocol commands by either removing them from the accessible interface or properly securing them through appropriate access controls and validation mechanisms. Organizations should immediately implement this patch across all affected Telium 2 terminals to remediate the vulnerability. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their payment terminal environments to identify any other instances of undocumented protocol commands or similar implementation flaws. Additional mitigations should include network segmentation of payment terminals to limit access to these devices, implementation of proper network monitoring to detect anomalous protocol usage, and regular security assessments of payment processing systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper protocol implementation and documentation in security-critical systems, particularly those handling financial transactions where the consequences of security flaws can be severe. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as secure boot mechanisms, integrity monitoring, and regular firmware updates to prevent similar issues from arising in the future. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched firmware to ensure that legitimate diagnostic functions remain operational while eliminating the security risks associated with the undocumented commands.