CVE-2018-6624 in Omron
Summary
by MITRE
OMRON NS devices 1.1 through 1.3 allow remote attackers to bypass authentication via a direct request to the .html file for a specific screen, as demonstrated by monitor.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6624 affects OMRON NS devices running firmware versions 1.1 through 1.3, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system interfaces. This issue stems from improper access control implementation within the web-based management interface of these industrial control devices, specifically allowing direct access to administrative screens without proper authentication verification. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the device's security architecture where the authentication mechanism can be circumvented by directly requesting specific HTML files such as monitor.html, which are typically protected and require valid credentials to access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward method where attackers can bypass the normal authentication flow by directly accessing the .html files that constitute the device's web interface. This approach directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a clear failure in the device's access control implementation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in authentication systems, and represents a classic case of weak access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user credentials before granting access to protected resources. The specific target file monitor.html serves as a clear indicator of the scope of the vulnerability, as it likely provides access to monitoring and control functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it exposes industrial control systems to potential compromise and disruption. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain visibility into the device's operational status, potentially leading to system tampering, data manipulation, or disruption of critical industrial processes. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where such devices often operate in critical infrastructure settings. This vulnerability can be leveraged as an initial access point for more sophisticated attacks, potentially enabling lateral movement within industrial networks and providing attackers with opportunities to compromise additional systems.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from OMRON to address the authentication bypass flaw, network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and the implementation of additional access controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN access for administrative functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in industrial control systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual access patterns to web interfaces and establish baseline behavior for these devices to identify potential exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the critical need for robust security practices in industrial environments where the consequences of unauthorized access can extend far beyond typical information technology concerns into physical safety and operational integrity risks.