CVE-2019-14702 in N-Series Camera
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on MicroDigital N-series cameras with firmware through 6400.0.8.5. SQL injection vulnerabilities exist in 13 forms that are reachable through HTTPD. An attacker can, for example, create an admin account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14702 represents a critical security flaw affecting MicroDigital N-series network cameras running firmware versions up to 6400.0.8.5. This issue manifests as multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities across thirteen distinct HTTP forms that are accessible through the camera's web server interface. The presence of these vulnerabilities fundamentally compromises the device's authentication and authorization mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized administrative access and control.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as weaknesses in software that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through untrusted input. In this case, the camera's web interface fails to properly sanitize user inputs submitted through HTTP forms, enabling malicious actors to inject SQL commands directly into the database layer. The attack surface extends across thirteen different forms, indicating a systemic design flaw rather than isolated vulnerability, suggesting that the application code lacks proper input validation and parameterized query implementation throughout its web interface.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and create administrative accounts within the camera system. This privilege escalation capability provides attackers with full control over the device, enabling them to modify camera settings, access video feeds, change user permissions, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The ability to create admin accounts specifically indicates that the vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction to full system compromise, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through network attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically follows a pattern where attackers identify the vulnerable HTTP forms through reconnaissance activities, then craft malicious payloads that manipulate the SQL queries executed by the camera's backend database. These payloads can be designed to insert new administrator accounts with predetermined credentials or to extract existing user information from the database. The network-based nature of the attack means that remote exploitation is possible without requiring physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for security-conscious organizations deploying these cameras in sensitive environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from MicroDigital to address the SQL injection flaws, network segmentation to isolate affected cameras from critical systems, and thorough network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing for networked devices and demonstrates how seemingly simple authentication mechanisms can be compromised through sophisticated injection attacks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their entire camera inventory to identify similar issues and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place for networked security devices.