CVE-2018-7243 in 66074 MGE Network Management Card
Summary
by MITRE
An authorization bypass vulnerability exists In Schneider Electric's 66074 MGE Network Management Card Transverse installed in MGE UPS and MGE STS. The integrated web server (Port 80/443/TCP) of the affected devices could allow a remote attacker to get a full access to device, bypassing the authorization system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7243 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within Schneider Electric's MGE Network Management Card Transverse firmware, specifically affecting MGE UPS and MGE STS devices. This security weakness resides in the integrated web server component that operates on standard TCP ports 80 and 443, creating a significant exposure surface for remote attackers seeking unauthorized access to enterprise-grade power management infrastructure. The flaw fundamentally undermines the device's authentication mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to circumvent established security controls without proper credentials or authorization.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication checks within the web server implementation of the management card. When remote attackers exploit this weakness, they can achieve complete administrative control over the affected devices, effectively bypassing all intended authorization protocols. This authorization bypass occurs at the application layer where the web interface processes incoming requests, suggesting that the flaw may be related to improper session management, weak credential handling, or flawed access control enforcement mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges to modify device configurations, access sensitive operational data, and potentially disrupt critical power infrastructure services.
From an operational perspective, the implications of CVE-2018-7243 are severe for organizations relying on Schneider Electric's MGE series devices for power management and distribution. The remote exploit capability means attackers can target these devices from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials, making the attack surface extremely broad. This vulnerability directly affects the integrity and availability of power management systems that often serve as critical infrastructure components in data centers, manufacturing facilities, and other environments where uninterrupted power supply is essential. The potential for cascading failures increases significantly when attackers can manipulate multiple devices within a network, as they may be able to orchestrate coordinated attacks against power infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical network segments, deployment of network access controls to restrict access to management ports, and application of firmware updates provided by Schneider Electric to address the authorization bypass vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized configuration changes on affected devices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and lateral movement techniques, as attackers can leverage the bypass to gain persistent access to network infrastructure. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all Schneider Electric devices, implementation of network monitoring solutions, and development of incident response procedures specific to infrastructure security breaches.