CVE-2019-3906 in Identicard
Summary
by MITRE
Premisys Identicard version 3.1.190 contains hardcoded credentials in the WCF service on port 9003. An authenticated remote attacker can use these credentials to access the badge system database and modify its contents.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3906 affects Premisys Identicard version 3.1.190, a biometric and access control system used for managing employee credentials and security access. This flaw resides within the Windows Communication Foundation WCF service that operates on port 9003, representing a critical security weakness that exposes the system to unauthorized access. The presence of hardcoded credentials within the service configuration creates an inherent risk that persists across system reboots and deployments, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where security is paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the WCF service architecture. Hardcoded credentials represent a fundamental security flaw that violates established security principles and best practices, as outlined in CWE-798. These credentials are embedded directly within the application code or configuration files, making them accessible to any attacker who can establish a network connection to the exposed port 9003. The WCF service architecture, while designed for robust communication, becomes compromised when authentication mechanisms rely on static credentials rather than dynamic authentication tokens or secure credential management systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using Premisys Identicard systems, as it allows authenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the badge system database. The attacker can leverage these hardcoded credentials to not only read sensitive information but also modify database contents, potentially leading to unauthorized access control changes, credential manipulation, and potential system compromise. This capability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the access control system, which forms a critical component of enterprise security infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple data access, as modifications to the database could result in unauthorized individuals gaining access to restricted areas or systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. Attackers can use this weakness as an initial access vector to establish a foothold within the network, potentially using the compromised database to further infiltrate other systems. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, where hardcoded credentials provide elevated access rights that should be dynamically managed. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation measures including network segmentation to isolate the affected service, disabling unnecessary ports, and implementing proper credential rotation procedures. Additionally, the system should be updated to a version that removes hardcoded credentials and implements proper authentication mechanisms. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to port 9003, and regular security audits should verify that no other hardcoded credentials exist within the system architecture. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper credential management in security-sensitive applications, as highlighted by industry standards and best practices for secure software development.