CVE-2019-16320 in Sea Tel
Summary
by MITRE
Cobham Sea Tel v170 224521 through v194 225444 devices allow attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information, such as a vessel's latitude and longitude, via the public SNMP community.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2023
This vulnerability exists in Cobham Sea Tel v170 224521 through v194 225444 maritime communication devices that expose sensitive positional data through unsecured Simple Network Management Protocol implementations. The flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability where attackers can remotely access vessel location coordinates including latitude and longitude through publicly accessible SNMP community strings. The vulnerability stems from improper configuration of SNMP services that do not adequately restrict access to sensitive operational data, allowing unauthorized parties to retrieve critical navigation information without authentication. This represents a significant security gap in maritime communication systems where vessel positioning data could be exploited for malicious purposes including piracy planning, targeted attacks, or commercial espionage. The issue aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and demonstrates poor implementation of network security controls. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability directly impacts maritime security and safety protocols, as location data could be used to track vessel movements, identify operational patterns, and potentially compromise mission-critical communications. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices operate in sensitive maritime environments where location confidentiality is paramount for both commercial and military operations.
The technical implementation flaw involves the default configuration of SNMP services on these maritime communication devices where community strings are either left at default values or are easily guessable, allowing attackers to perform SNMP walks and extract sensitive positional information. This vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, specifically targeting the SNMP v1 or v2c implementations that lack proper authentication mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness using standard SNMP enumeration tools to query the device for system information including location data, which is typically exposed through MIB (Management Information Base) objects that contain vessel positioning parameters. The vulnerability is classified under ATT&CK technique T1082, which involves discovery of system information through network enumeration, and T1566, which covers credential access through network sniffing or enumeration. The exposure of latitude and longitude coordinates through SNMP represents a direct violation of information security principles, as this data should be protected under access control policies and restricted to authorized personnel only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks targeting maritime communications infrastructure. Attackers could use the retrieved location data to plan coordinated attacks on shipping routes, identify vulnerable vessels for piracy operations, or conduct surveillance operations against commercial maritime assets. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in operational environments where vessel positioning data is considered classified information and where unauthorized access could compromise national security or commercial interests. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader maritime security assessments, as it represents a critical gap in the security posture of communication systems used in sensitive operational environments. The risk is compounded by the fact that these devices are often deployed in remote maritime locations where physical security is limited and network monitoring may be insufficient to detect unauthorized access attempts.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper SNMP security configurations including the use of strong community strings, restricting SNMP access to authorized IP addresses, and upgrading to SNMP v3 which provides built-in encryption and authentication mechanisms. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these devices from general network access, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar configuration issues. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized SNMP access attempts and alert security personnel to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security awareness training for network administrators responsible for maritime communication systems, emphasizing the importance of proper configuration management and regular security assessments. Additionally, device firmware should be updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability, and organizations should consider implementing network access controls that prevent unauthorized enumeration of device information. These measures align with industry best practices for securing industrial control systems and network infrastructure, particularly in environments where operational security and information confidentiality are critical requirements.