CVE-2019-14718 in MX900
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2020
Verifone MX900 series Pinpad Payment Terminals with OS 30251000 have Insecure Permissions, with resultant svc_netcontrol arbitrary command injection and privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
The Verifone MX900 series pinpad payment terminals represent critical infrastructure components in retail and financial environments where secure transaction processing is paramount. These devices operate with a specific operating system version 30251000 that contains a fundamental security flaw in its permission model. The vulnerability manifests through improper access controls that allow unauthorized users to manipulate system permissions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. This issue directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of payment processing operations by enabling attackers to gain control over the terminal's core functions and potentially access sensitive transaction data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the svc_netcontrol service which is designed to manage network control functions but contains insecure permission configurations. When an attacker successfully manipulates these permissions, they can inject arbitrary commands into the system, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. This command injection capability allows for privilege escalation, meaning that a user with minimal access rights can elevate their privileges to gain administrative control over the entire terminal. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor mechanism that circumvents the intended security architecture of the device, enabling attackers to execute malicious code and potentially compromise the entire payment processing environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of payment terminals in use across various industries. Attackers could potentially access transaction logs, modify payment processing parameters, or even redirect payment flows to unauthorized accounts. This vulnerability affects the trust model that payment terminals rely upon, where customers and merchants expect that transactions are processed securely and without interference. The risk is particularly severe in environments where these terminals handle high-volume transactions, as a successful exploitation could result in significant financial losses and regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate payment terminals from general network access, regular security audits to identify unauthorized access attempts, and firmware updates when available from Verifone. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which describes insecure permissions and improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual command execution patterns, enforcing strict access controls for administrative functions, and conducting regular penetration testing to identify similar permission-related flaws in other payment processing equipment. Organizations must also consider the broader implications for PCI DSS compliance and ensure that their security measures address the specific threat landscape presented by insecure permission configurations in payment terminals.