CVE-2019-14712 in VerixV
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2020
Verifone VerixV Pinpad Payment Terminals with QT000530 allow bypass of integrity and origin control for S1G file generation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14712 affects Verifone VerixV Pinpad Payment Terminals running firmware version QT000530, representing a critical security flaw in the cryptographic integrity controls of payment processing hardware. This vulnerability specifically targets the S1G file generation process, which is fundamental to the secure communication and transaction processing capabilities of these payment terminals. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow unauthorized parties to manipulate the file generation process without proper authentication or authorization, thereby undermining the core security architecture designed to protect sensitive payment data.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the terminal's integrity and origin control mechanisms, where the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of S1G files during their creation process. This allows attackers to generate or modify S1G files without the required cryptographic signatures or validation checks that should normally be enforced. The vulnerability operates at the firmware level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring network access or specialized tools beyond basic understanding of the terminal's operational protocols. This type of flaw directly relates to CWE-347, which addresses improper certificate validation and authentication failures in cryptographic systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials from password storage modules.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it enables potential attackers to compromise the entire payment processing chain. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could generate fraudulent S1G files that would be accepted by the payment terminal as legitimate, potentially allowing for unauthorized transactions, data manipulation, or complete system compromise. The implications are particularly severe in retail and hospitality environments where these terminals are commonly deployed, as they handle sensitive cardholder data and transaction information that could be exploited for financial fraud. The vulnerability undermines the trust model that payment terminals rely on, potentially enabling man-in-the-middle attacks or relay attacks that could result in significant financial losses and regulatory violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Verifone to address the integrity control bypass issue, while organizations should implement additional network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect suspicious file generation activities. Security teams should deploy intrusion detection systems capable of monitoring for anomalous S1G file creation patterns and establish strict access controls for terminal management interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation in embedded payment systems and underscores the need for regular security assessments of payment terminal firmware. Organizations should also consider implementing transaction monitoring systems that can detect and flag unusual patterns in S1G file creation that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting payment infrastructure.