CVE-2020-10248 in DiREX-Pro
Summary
by MITRE
BWA DiREX-Pro 1.2181 devices allow remote attackers to discover passwords via a direct request to val_users.php3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10248 affects BWA DiREX-Pro 1.2181 devices, representing a critical security flaw that exposes authentication credentials to remote attackers. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the web interface of the device, specifically targeting the val_users.php3 endpoint which handles user authentication validation. The flaw allows adversaries to bypass normal authentication procedures and directly access password information through unauthenticated requests, fundamentally undermining the device's security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the web application layer of the DiREX-Pro device, where the val_users.php3 script fails to properly validate incoming requests or enforce authentication requirements. This misconfiguration creates an information disclosure vulnerability that aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting direct HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint, potentially retrieving user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive authentication data without requiring valid login credentials or authorization. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and access control enforcement that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device's management interface and potentially compromise the entire network infrastructure. Once attackers obtain valid credentials, they can perform administrative actions including but not limited to modifying device configurations, creating new user accounts, accessing network traffic, or installing malicious firmware. This represents a significant risk to industrial control systems and network security, particularly in environments where these devices are deployed for critical infrastructure monitoring or process control. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from BWA to address the identified vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and implementation of access control measures such as firewall rules that restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint. Security professionals should also consider monitoring network traffic for suspicious requests to val_users.php3 and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify similar issues in other networked devices and ensure proper authentication mechanisms are in place. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in embedded systems, particularly those handling sensitive operational data in industrial environments.