CVE-2018-7234 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 arbitrary system file download due to lack of validation of SSL certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7234 affects Schneider Electric's Pelco Sarix Professional video surveillance equipment across all firmware versions prior to 3.29.67. This critical security flaw resides in the device's implementation of secure socket layer certificate validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to system files through man-in-the-middle attack scenarios. The vulnerability specifically targets the SSL/TLS certificate validation process, which is fundamental to establishing secure communications between the surveillance device and its management interfaces. When SSL certificate validation is bypassed or inadequately implemented, attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and manipulate communications, ultimately gaining access to sensitive system files that should remain protected.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient certificate validation routines within the Pelco Sarix Professional's secure communication protocols. This weakness allows attackers to perform SSL stripping attacks or present fraudulent certificates to the device during connection establishment, effectively disabling the security measures designed to protect against unauthorized access. The flaw enables arbitrary system file downloads, meaning an attacker could potentially retrieve configuration files, user credentials, firmware images, and other sensitive data stored on the device. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a significant deviation from established security best practices for networked devices. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects all firmware versions prior to 3.29.67, indicating a persistent flaw in the device's security architecture that was not adequately addressed in the affected release versions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7234 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, creating potential for complete system compromise and surveillance system takeover. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to critical system information that would enable them to plan more sophisticated attacks against the broader network infrastructure. The compromised surveillance system could be used as a pivot point for lateral movement within the network, potentially providing attackers with insights into physical security layouts and access patterns that could be exploited for additional breaches. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial security environments where Pelco Sarix devices are deployed for perimeter monitoring, access control, and security surveillance. The implications are severe given that these devices often operate in environments with sensitive operational technology infrastructure, where unauthorized access to surveillance data could compromise both physical and cybersecurity posture. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves network service scanning, and T1071, which covers application layer protocol usage, as attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to the surveillance infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates to version 3.29.67 or later, which addresses the SSL certificate validation weakness. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or communication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible and conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all networked surveillance equipment. The remediation process should include verification of certificate validation configurations and implementation of secure communication protocols that enforce proper SSL/TLS certificate validation. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify SSL stripping attacks and other man-in-the-middle techniques that could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security audits and penetration testing of surveillance infrastructure should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other networked security devices that may present similar risks.