CVE-2018-5469 in Belden Hirschmann
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts issue was discovered in Belden Hirschmann RS, RSR, RSB, MACH100, MACH1000, MACH4000, MS, and OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches. An improper restriction of excessive authentication vulnerability in the web interface has been identified, which may allow an attacker to brute force authentication.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The CVE-2018-5469 vulnerability represents a critical weakness in network switch security infrastructure affecting multiple Belden Hirschmann product lines including RS RSR RSB MACH100 MACH1000 MACH4000 MS and OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches. This vulnerability resides within the web interface authentication mechanism and constitutes a failure to properly enforce authentication attempt limits. The flaw enables attackers to conduct brute force attacks against the switch's web management interface without adequate protection against repeated login attempts. The vulnerability stems from insufficient rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms that should normally prevent automated credential guessing attacks. This weakness directly violates security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-307 which specifically addresses improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts. The affected switches operate in industrial network environments where unauthorized access could lead to significant operational disruptions and security breaches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the web-based management interface of these network switches which lacks proper authentication throttling mechanisms. Attackers can repeatedly attempt various username and password combinations without triggering automatic account lockouts or temporary access restrictions. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it allows for systematic credential brute forcing attacks that can be automated and sustained over extended periods. The vulnerability exists at the application layer within the web server component that handles authentication requests, making it accessible through standard HTTP protocols. Network administrators typically access these switches via web browsers and the lack of protection against excessive authentication attempts creates an exploitable attack surface that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110 for Brute Force and Credential Access. The absence of account lockout functionality or rate limiting means that attackers can continue attempting to guess valid credentials until they succeed or until system resources are exhausted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential network compromise and operational disruption within industrial control systems. In environments where these switches manage critical network infrastructure, unauthorized access could lead to network segmentation failures, man-in-the-middle attacks, or complete network takeover scenarios. The vulnerability affects industrial network switches that typically operate in 24/7 environments where maintaining network integrity and availability is paramount. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain administrative privileges to modify switch configurations, redirect network traffic, or create backdoor access points. The impact is particularly severe in industrial settings where network switches control communication between critical systems and where unauthorized access could compromise safety systems, production processes, or data integrity. Organizations relying on these switches for network management face significant risk of operational disruption and potential safety hazards when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5469 should focus on immediate implementation of authentication rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms. Network administrators should apply vendor-provided security patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available to address the specific authentication flaws. Physical security measures including network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit direct access to switch management interfaces. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and potential brute force attack attempts. The implementation of multi-factor authentication where possible can provide additional protection layers against credential compromise. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that authentication mechanisms are properly configured and functioning. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and firewall rules to restrict access to switch management interfaces to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 which emphasize the need for proper authentication controls and protection against brute force attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components.