CVE-2019-16673 in IE-SW-VL05M
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Weidmueller IE-SW-VL05M 3.6.6 Build 16102415, IE-SW-VL08MT 3.5.2 Build 16102415, and IE-SW-PL10M 3.3.16 Build 16102416 devices. Passwords are stored in cleartext and can be read by anyone with access to the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2024
This vulnerability affects industrial network devices manufactured by Weidmueller, specifically the IE-SW-VL05M, IE-SW-VL08MT, and IE-SW-PL10M models running particular firmware versions. The flaw represents a critical security weakness where authentication credentials are stored in plain text format rather than being properly encrypted or hashed. This design oversight fundamentally compromises the security posture of these industrial devices, as any individual who gains physical or network access to the equipment can readily extract administrative passwords without requiring sophisticated exploitation techniques. The vulnerability directly violates established security principles for credential storage and represents a significant risk to industrial control systems and operational technology environments.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates poor security practices in the device firmware development lifecycle. Passwords are stored in cleartext within the device configuration files or memory structures, making them immediately accessible to anyone with sufficient access privileges to read the device's configuration or memory contents. This issue falls under CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial environments where physical security may be limited, and unauthorized access to network infrastructure can lead to severe operational disruptions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized administrative access to the network switches, potentially enabling them to manipulate network traffic, redirect communications, or establish persistent access points within the industrial network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of industrial network devices. In industrial control systems environments, these switches often serve as critical network infrastructure components that connect various operational technology devices, sensors, and control systems. When administrative passwords are stored in cleartext, attackers can easily escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over the network segment managed by these devices. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or direct access. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where these devices are deployed without adequate physical security measures, as unauthorized personnel could simply connect to the device and extract the passwords.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to these industrial devices, network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise, and regular firmware updates when available. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure credential storage practices in embedded systems and industrial environments. Device administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their industrial network infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network equipment. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and credential usage patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The incident underscores the necessity for robust security controls in operational technology environments, particularly given that industrial networks often operate with limited security awareness compared to traditional enterprise environments, making such vulnerabilities particularly dangerous in the context of industrial cybersecurity.