CVE-2019-9099 in MGate MB3170
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Moxa MGate MB3170 and MB3270 devices before 4.1, MB3280 and MB3480 devices before 3.1, MB3660 devices before 2.3, and MB3180 devices before 2.1. A Buffer overflow in the built-in web server allows remote attackers to initiate DoS, and probably to execute arbitrary code (issue 1 of 2).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2019-9099 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the web server component of several Moxa MGate series industrial devices. This security weakness affects multiple device models including MB3170, MB3270, MB3280, MB3480, MB3660, and MB3180 across their respective firmware versions. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the embedded web server implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory handling vulnerabilities through network-based attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw by sending specially crafted requests to the affected web server, potentially triggering a buffer overflow that could lead to denial of service conditions or more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where network connectivity is essential for device operation and monitoring.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control systems and industrial internet of things deployments that rely on Moxa MGate devices for data communication and protocol conversion. The potential for remote code execution creates opportunities for attackers to gain persistent access to network infrastructure, potentially leading to data breaches, operational disruption, or even physical system compromise in environments where these devices interface with critical industrial processes. The DoS capability alone can result in service interruption and operational downtime, which may be particularly problematic in mission-critical applications where continuous operation is essential.
Organizations utilizing affected Moxa devices should prioritize immediate firmware updates to address this vulnerability, as recommended by the vendor's security advisories. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210, which covers exploitation of remote services, and represents a significant risk to industrial cybersecurity posture, particularly in environments where operational technology networks are not adequately separated from corporate networks. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts against embedded web servers.