CVE-2018-5471 in Belden Hirschmann
Summary
by MITRE
A Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information issue was discovered in Belden Hirschmann RS, RSR, RSB, MACH100, MACH1000, MACH4000, MS, and OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches. A cleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in the web interface has been identified, which may allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information through a successful man-in-the-middle attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-5471 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple network switch platforms from Belden Hirschmann including RS, RSR, RSB, MACH100, MACH1000, MACH4000, MS, and OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches. This issue manifests as a cleartext transmission of sensitive information through the web interface component of these network devices, creating a fundamental weakness in the communication security architecture. The vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of secure communication protocols within the web management interface, where authentication credentials, configuration data, and other sensitive operational information are transmitted without adequate encryption mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack where the web interface fails to implement proper transport layer security measures. The cleartext transmission exposes all data flowing between the management client and the network switch to interception and manipulation by malicious actors positioned within the network path. This flaw directly violates established security principles and industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-319, which specifically addresses the transmission of sensitive information in cleartext over networks. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks with minimal technical sophistication, as they can capture and decode network traffic to extract administrative credentials, system configurations, and other confidential information that should remain protected during transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully intercepts the cleartext communications can gain administrative privileges to manipulate switch configurations, redirect network traffic, or establish persistent access points within the network environment. This threat vector particularly affects industrial network environments where these switches are commonly deployed, as the compromised switches can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability affects the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of network operations, creating potential for significant disruption to industrial control systems and network services.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of network segmentation strategies to isolate management traffic, implementation of network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns, and enforcement of secure remote access protocols such as SSH for administrative access. Organizations must also consider the deployment of network intrusion detection systems that can identify cleartext credential transmission attempts and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and follow ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and network sniffing. Long-term solutions involve firmware updates from the vendor to implement proper TLS encryption for web interface communications, along with comprehensive network security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire network infrastructure.