CVE-2019-7258 in Linear eMerge E3
Summary
by MITRE
Linear eMerge E3-Series devices allow Privilege Escalation.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2023
The Linear eMerge E3-Series devices represent a line of security management systems designed for enterprise environments, incorporating various security protocols and access control mechanisms. These devices typically serve as central management points for security infrastructure, handling authentication, authorization, and monitoring functions across connected security systems. The vulnerability identified in CVE-2019-7258 specifically targets the privilege escalation capabilities within these systems, creating a critical security weakness that could allow unauthorized users to gain elevated access rights beyond their normal operational boundaries. This flaw exists within the authentication and authorization framework of the device's software architecture, potentially compromising the entire security ecosystem that relies on these management systems for proper access control.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate access control checks within the device's user management subsystem. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating authentication requests or exploiting specific code paths that do not properly verify user privileges before granting access to administrative functions. The flaw likely resides in the device's handling of session management, user role assignments, or access control lists where proper authorization checks are either missing or improperly implemented. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of how inadequate privilege validation can create security breaches. The vulnerability may be exploitable through various attack vectors including web interface manipulation, API calls, or direct protocol exploitation depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of this privilege escalation vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially allowing attackers to completely compromise the security infrastructure managed by these devices. Once an attacker gains elevated privileges, they can modify security policies, add or remove users, access sensitive configuration data, and potentially manipulate security logs to cover their tracks. This could result in complete system takeover and unauthorized access to all connected security devices, including cameras, access control systems, and intrusion detection mechanisms. The attack could be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where these devices serve as central management points for multiple security systems, as the compromise of a single device could provide access to an entire security infrastructure. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through social engineering or system exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Linear to address the specific privilege escalation flaw, along with comprehensive access control reviews and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation. Organizations should implement strict monitoring of authentication and authorization events to detect suspicious privilege escalation attempts, while also ensuring that default credentials are changed and that access controls follow the principle of least privilege. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security layers including intrusion detection systems, firewall rules to limit access to management interfaces, and regular security audits of the device configurations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper software security testing including static code analysis and dynamic penetration testing to identify similar privilege escalation issues in security management systems. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address such critical vulnerabilities and ensure that all security management systems are regularly updated and maintained to prevent exploitation of known security flaws.