CVE-2018-7820 in UPS Network Management Card 2 AOS
Summary
by MITRE
A Credentials Management CWE-255 vulnerability exists in the APC UPS Network Management Card 2 AOS v6.5.6, which could cause Remote Monitoring Credentials to be viewed in plaintext when Remote Monitoring is enabled, and then disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-7820 represents a critical credentials management flaw classified under CWE-255, which specifically addresses issues in credential handling and authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability affects the APC UPS Network Management Card 2 AOS version 6.5.6, a network management interface used to monitor and control uninterruptible power supply systems in enterprise environments. The flaw manifests when the remote monitoring feature is enabled and subsequently disabled, creating a persistent security risk that undermines the integrity of authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper credential handling within the network management card's authentication subsystem. When remote monitoring is activated, the system stores authentication credentials in plaintext format rather than implementing proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms. Even after the remote monitoring function is disabled, these plaintext credentials remain accessible to unauthorized users who might exploit the system's configuration management processes. This behavior violates fundamental security principles outlined in the NIST SP 800-63 standard for authentication and credential management, which requires that sensitive authentication data be protected through appropriate cryptographic mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it provides attackers with persistent access to critical infrastructure management systems. Network administrators who rely on APC UPS management cards for power infrastructure monitoring face significant risks when this vulnerability exists, as the exposed credentials could be used to gain unauthorized access to the power management systems, potentially leading to service disruption or even physical infrastructure damage. The vulnerability creates a window of opportunity for attackers to escalate their privileges and move laterally within the network infrastructure, aligning with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and persistence domains.
Organizations utilizing affected APC UPS Network Management Card 2 systems should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the remote monitoring feature entirely when not actively required, implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper secure coding practices and configuration management as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices. System administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication and regular credential rotation procedures to reduce the attack surface and maintain operational security despite the presence of this vulnerability.