CVE-2018-7245 in 66074 MGE Network Management Card
Summary
by MITRE
An improper authorization 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 change UPS control and shutdown parameters or other critical settings without authorization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7245 represents a critical improper authorization flaw within Schneider Electric's MGE Network Management Card Transverse firmware, specifically affecting devices such as MGE UPS and MGE STS systems. This vulnerability manifests in the integrated web server component that operates on standard TCP ports 80 and 443, creating an attack surface that remote threat actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to critical system controls. The flaw stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms that fail to properly validate user credentials before granting access to administrative functions, effectively allowing any remote attacker to manipulate fundamental system parameters without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability places the affected devices at significant risk due to their exposure through the standard web interface ports that are commonly accessible from external networks. When an attacker successfully exploits this weakness, they can modify critical UPS control parameters including shutdown sequences, power management configurations, and other operational settings that directly impact the reliability and safety of the protected electrical infrastructure. This improper authorization condition specifically violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in access control implementation that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and directly manipulate system functions that should only be accessible to authorized personnel with appropriate administrative credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates potential for significant disruptions to power management systems and could lead to unintended shutdowns or improper power handling during critical operations. Organizations relying on these UPS systems for critical infrastructure protection face substantial risk of service interruptions, equipment damage, or safety hazards if attackers exploit this vulnerability to modify shutdown parameters or other operational controls. The remote nature of the attack vector means that threat actors do not require physical access to the devices, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. This scenario directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7245 should prioritize immediate implementation of network segmentation to isolate affected devices from untrusted networks, while also ensuring that all administrative access is protected through strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication where possible. Organizations must apply the vendor-provided security patches and firmware updates as soon as they become available to address the underlying authorization flaw. Network access control lists should be configured to restrict access to the affected web interfaces to only trusted administrative workstations, and all unnecessary network services should be disabled to minimize the attack surface. Regular security assessments and monitoring of network traffic for suspicious activity related to the affected ports should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, comprehensive network security policies should be established to ensure that all administrative interfaces are properly secured and that access controls are regularly reviewed and validated against established security frameworks. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing robust network security controls to protect critical infrastructure systems from remote exploitation attempts.