CVE-2019-9105 in Impianti Speciali TEBE Small
Summary
by MITRE
The WebApp v04.68 in the supervisor on SAET Impianti Speciali TEBE Small 05.01 build 1137 devices allows remote attackers to make several types of API calls without authentication, as demonstrated by retrieving password hashes via an inc/utils/REST_API.php?command=CallAPI&customurl=alladminusers call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9105 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the WebApp component of SAET Impianti Speciali TEBE Small 05.01 devices running supervisor version 04.68 build 1137. This issue exposes a fundamental security weakness in the device's web interface architecture that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute privileged operations through the application programming interface. The vulnerability specifically affects the inc/utils/REST_API.php endpoint which serves as a gateway for various administrative functions without proper authentication verification. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious API calls that target the alladminusers command, thereby gaining access to sensitive information including password hashes that are typically protected behind authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the REST API framework of the device's web application. The system fails to properly verify user credentials before executing administrative commands, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to privileged functions. The specific API endpoint inc/utils/REST_API.php appears to lack proper session management and access control mechanisms that would normally validate the identity of users attempting to perform administrative tasks. This flaw aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, where the application does not adequately verify the identity of users before granting access to protected resources. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system assumes that all requests originating from the API endpoint are legitimate without proper authentication verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to extract password hashes from the system's administrative accounts. This access to hashed credentials significantly increases the risk of further compromise, as attackers can attempt offline password cracking attacks against the retrieved hash values. The exposure of administrative user accounts through this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the device's management interface. Organizations relying on these devices for industrial control or monitoring purposes face substantial risk, as the compromised administrative access could potentially lead to system manipulation, data tampering, or complete device takeover. The vulnerability also violates security principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts, where adversaries leverage legitimate credentials to gain access to systems, though in this case the credentials are exposed through the vulnerability rather than being stolen through other means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper authentication controls within the web application's API framework. Organizations should deploy network segmentation to limit access to these devices to authorized administrative networks only, while implementing strict access control lists that restrict API endpoint access based on legitimate user credentials. The device firmware should be updated to include proper authentication verification mechanisms before executing any privileged commands, and session management should be strengthened to prevent unauthorized access attempts. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious API access patterns and unauthorized attempts to access administrative functions through the REST API endpoint. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities within the device's web interface components, ensuring that all API endpoints properly validate user credentials before executing administrative operations. The remediation process should also include disabling unnecessary API endpoints and implementing proper logging mechanisms to track all administrative access attempts for forensic analysis purposes.