CVE-2018-20008 in Baton iB-WRB302N20122017
Summary
by MITRE
iBall Baton iB-WRB302N20122017 devices have improper access control over the UART interface, allowing physical attackers to discover Wi-Fi credentials (plain text) and the web-console password (base64) via the debugging console.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20008 affects iBall Baton iB-WRB302N20122017 wireless routers and presents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of these network devices. This issue stems from inadequate protection mechanisms surrounding the Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) interface, which serves as a debugging console for device maintenance and development purposes. The flaw allows unauthorized physical access to reveal sensitive information that should remain protected within the device's secure boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exposure of plaintext Wi-Fi credentials and base64 encoded web-console passwords through the UART interface. When an attacker gains physical access to the device, they can connect to the debugging console and extract this information without requiring authentication or specialized tools beyond basic hardware access. The Wi-Fi credentials are stored in plain text format, making them immediately usable by attackers for unauthorized network access, while the web-console password is encoded using base64, which provides minimal security protection since base64 encoding is easily reversible and commonly recognized. This represents a fundamental failure in information security practices where sensitive credentials are not properly encrypted or obfuscated during storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft and encompasses significant network security risks. Once an attacker obtains the plaintext Wi-Fi credentials, they can establish unauthorized connections to the wireless network, potentially gaining access to connected devices and network resources. The web-console password exposure enables attackers to gain administrative access to the device's management interface, allowing them to modify network settings, install malicious firmware, or disable security features. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security design in embedded network devices. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only physical access to the device, making it exploitable in scenarios where device security is not properly managed, such as in public locations or unsecured environments.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a failure in proper privilege separation and access control mechanisms. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) when attackers leverage the exposed credentials for further exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical gap in device security testing and validation, particularly concerning the exposure of debugging interfaces during production deployment. Organizations should implement robust physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to network devices, while manufacturers must ensure that debugging interfaces are properly secured or disabled in production environments. The recommended mitigations include disabling UART interfaces in production devices, implementing proper access controls for debugging features, and ensuring that sensitive information is properly encrypted or obfuscated during storage. Additionally, network administrators should regularly audit device configurations and credentials to detect potential compromises, while security testing should include verification of physical access controls and debugging interface security. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive security testing throughout the device lifecycle and the critical need for proper security by design principles in embedded systems development.