CVE-2018-5465 in Belden Hirschmann
Summary
by MITRE
A Session Fixation issue was discovered in Belden Hirschmann RS, RSR, RSB, MACH100, MACH1000, MACH4000, MS, and OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches. A session fixation vulnerability in the web interface has been identified, which may allow an attacker to hijack web sessions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The CVE-2018-5465 vulnerability represents a critical session fixation flaw affecting multiple industrial network switching platforms manufactured by Belden Hirschmann. This vulnerability specifically impacts the web-based management interfaces of RS, RSR, RSB, MACH100, MACH1000, MACH4000, MS, and OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches, creating a significant security risk for industrial control systems and network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of web session identifiers within the authentication mechanism, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system through session fixation attacks. This issue directly violates fundamental web security principles and poses severe operational risks to organizations relying on these industrial switching solutions for network management and control.
The technical flaw manifests in the web interface's session management implementation where the system fails to properly invalidate or regenerate session tokens upon successful authentication. When an unauthenticated user accesses the web interface, the system generates a session identifier that remains consistent throughout the user's interaction. An attacker who can observe this initial session token can subsequently reuse it to establish a persistent session with the target system, effectively hijacking the user's authenticated session. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-384 as "Session Fixation" and directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing via Service" and T1562.001 for "Disable or Modify Tools" when attackers leverage this weakness to maintain persistent access to industrial network management interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it can lead to unauthorized administrative access to critical network infrastructure components. Industrial organizations utilizing these Belden Hirschmann switches face potential risks including unauthorized configuration changes, network disruption, data manipulation, and possible escalation to more severe attacks targeting industrial control systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where these switches serve as gateways to critical industrial networks, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain deep insights into network topology and potentially compromise downstream industrial processes. Network administrators may find themselves unable to distinguish between legitimate and malicious sessions, creating blind spots in network monitoring and incident response capabilities. The risk is amplified in environments where physical security controls are inadequate, as the web interface may be accessible from external networks without proper network segmentation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5465 should focus on immediate implementation of session management best practices and network security controls. Organizations should ensure that all affected switches receive firmware updates from Belden Hirschmann to address the session fixation vulnerability. Network segmentation practices should be implemented to restrict access to the web interfaces from untrusted networks, while strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication should be deployed. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious session activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive network audits to identify all instances of affected switches and establish monitoring procedures for session token behavior. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following NIST SP 800-53 security controls for session management and access control, particularly those related to authentication and session handling within industrial control systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify potential additional vulnerabilities in the industrial network infrastructure.