CVE-2019-17215 in Combi-Steam MSLQ
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on V-Zug Combi-Steam MSLQ devices before Ethernet R07 and before WLAN R05. There is no bruteforce protection (e.g., lockout) established. An attacker might be able to bruteforce the password to authenticate on the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17215 affects V-Zug Combi-Steam MSLQ devices operating with firmware versions prior to Ethernet R07 and WLAN R05. This represents a critical authentication weakness that exposes these appliances to unauthorized access attempts through brute force attacks. The device lacks any form of account lockout mechanism or rate limiting controls that would typically prevent automated password guessing attempts, creating a significant security risk for users who rely on these appliances for their daily operations.
This flaw constitutes a direct violation of fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog under CWE-307, which specifically addresses improper restriction of repeated authentication attempts. The absence of bruteforce protection mechanisms creates an environment where attackers can systematically test password combinations without encountering any barriers to prevent excessive login attempts. The vulnerability directly impacts the device's authentication security model by eliminating any form of access control enforcement that would normally prevent unauthorized users from gaining administrative access through credential guessing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential compromise of the entire device management system. Attackers who successfully brute force the authentication credentials could gain full administrative control over the appliance, potentially allowing them to modify device configurations, access sensitive operational data, or even use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. This risk is particularly concerning given that many of these devices are deployed in commercial or industrial environments where they may be connected to critical infrastructure or contain sensitive operational parameters.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation. The lack of account lockout mechanisms provides attackers with a straightforward path to compromise the device through credential stuffing or brute force methods. The vulnerability also aligns with T1110, which covers Brute Force and Credential Stuffing attacks, and T1078, which addresses Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage legitimate credentials through repeated guessing attempts. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where these devices are deployed in networked configurations.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates to the latest available versions that include proper bruteforce protection mechanisms. Device administrators should also implement network segmentation to isolate these appliances from critical systems and consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unusual authentication patterns. Organizations should review their device access policies and ensure that default credentials are changed immediately upon deployment, as the vulnerability is particularly dangerous when devices are configured with factory defaults that remain unchanged. Additionally, implementing network-based access controls and authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication where possible can provide additional layers of protection against these types of attacks.