CVE-2018-7228 in Pelco Sarix Professional
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability exists in Schneider Electric's Pelco Sarix Professional in all firmware versions prior to 3.29.67 which could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and get the administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7228 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Schneider Electric's Pelco Sarix Professional series video surveillance devices. This security weakness affects all firmware versions prior to 3.29.67 and exposes the system to unauthenticated remote attackers who can escalate their privileges to administrative level without proper authentication credentials. The flaw fundamentally undermines the device's security model by allowing unauthorized access to critical system functions that should be restricted to legitimate administrators only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper authentication handling within the device's web interface and API endpoints. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that bypass the standard authentication mechanisms, effectively granting them full administrative control over the surveillance system. This includes access to camera configuration settings, user management, recording parameters, and other sensitive operational controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages weaknesses in session management and privilege validation processes that should normally prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on Pelco Sarix devices for security monitoring and surveillance operations. An attacker with remote access to administrative privileges can manipulate camera settings to disable recording, modify surveillance schedules, or redirect video feeds to evade detection. The compromise extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it allows complete system manipulation, including the potential to install malicious firmware, modify system logs to cover tracks, or create backdoor access points for persistent unauthorized presence. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of security monitoring systems, potentially leaving organizations vulnerable to undetected breaches while compromising the reliability of their surveillance infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement firmware updates to version 3.29.67 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as this represents the official patch provided by Schneider Electric. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical network segments, and access controls should be tightened to limit administrative access to only necessary personnel. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify the proper implementation of access controls and monitor for any suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for unusual authentication patterns or privilege escalation attempts targeting video surveillance equipment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access categories, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures beyond simple patch management to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting security infrastructure components.