CVE-2019-9679 in IPC-HDW1X2X
Summary
by MITRE
Some of Dahua's Debug functions do not have permission separation. Low-privileged users can use the Debug function after logging in. Affected products include: IPC-HDW1X2X,IPC-HFW1X2X,IPC-HDW2X2X,IPC-HFW2X2X,IPC-HDW4X2X,IPC-HFW4X2X,IPC-HDBW4X2X,IPC-HDW5X2X,IPC-HFW5X2X for versions which Build time is before August 18,2019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9679 represents a critical authorization flaw within Dahua security products that undermines fundamental security controls. This issue affects a range of network video cameras and recording devices including various IPC-HDW and IPC-HFW series models, as well as the IPC-HDBW4X2X and IPC-HDW5X2X variants. The flaw manifests in the improper implementation of access controls within the device's debug functionality, where low-privileged users can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to debug features that should be restricted to administrative or authorized personnel only. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices with build times prior to August 18, 2019, indicating that Dahua released patches or improved security measures after this date.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a lack of proper permission separation within the device's authentication and authorization framework. When users log into the system, the debug functions remain accessible regardless of their privilege level, creating an unauthorized access vector that bypasses normal security boundaries. This misconfiguration allows any authenticated user to execute debug operations that typically require elevated privileges, effectively providing a backdoor into the device's operational environment. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor adherence to the principle of least privilege, where users should only have access to functions necessary for their role within the system. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks within security-critical functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure. Low-privileged users who can access debug functions may be able to manipulate device configurations, extract sensitive information, or potentially escalate their privileges to administrative levels. The debug functionality often provides deep system access including memory inspection, process manipulation, and configuration parameter changes that could enable attackers to gain complete control over the affected devices. This vulnerability creates an environment where attackers can perform reconnaissance, exploit other system weaknesses, or establish persistent access points within network security infrastructures. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise security environments where these devices are deployed for surveillance and monitoring purposes, as they may be used to bypass security controls or gain unauthorized access to sensitive areas.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches released after August 18, 2019, and ensuring all affected devices are updated to the latest firmware versions. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit direct network access to these devices, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to debug functions. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of device access controls and privilege assignments to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and firmware updates in maintaining secure networked device deployments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers could leverage debug access to modify system behavior and avoid detection mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns to debug interfaces and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing unauthorized device access scenarios.