CVE-2020-27149 in NPort IA5150A-IEX
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2021
By exploiting a vulnerability in NPort IA5150A/IA5250A Series before version 1.5, a user with “Read Only” privilege level can send requests via the web console to have the device’s configuration changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-27149 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in the NPort IA5150A and IA5250A series industrial networking devices. This weakness allows attackers with minimal privileges to escalate their access and manipulate device configurations through the web console interface, fundamentally undermining the security model of these industrial communication appliances. The affected devices operate in industrial automation and control environments where maintaining configuration integrity is paramount for operational continuity and security.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and authorization checks within the web management interface of these devices. Specifically, the vulnerability exists in how the system processes HTTP requests sent through the web console, where the device fails to properly verify that the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to modify configuration parameters. This authorization bypass occurs even when the user account has only "Read Only" permissions, which should normally restrict access to configuration changes. The vulnerability manifests as a lack of proper access control enforcement mechanisms that should validate user privileges before executing configuration modification operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for industrial environments that rely on these devices for network connectivity and protocol translation. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can potentially alter network configurations, modify communication parameters, or disrupt industrial communication flows without proper authorization. This capability could lead to service disruption, data integrity issues, or even compromise the broader industrial control system by enabling further attacks. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where these devices serve as gateways between different network segments or protocol domains, as configuration changes could enable lateral movement or data exfiltration.
Security professionals should treat this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate attention in industrial environments. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the manufacturer's security update to version 1.5 or later, which addresses the authorization bypass through proper input validation and enhanced access control mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices, enforce strong authentication controls, and monitor web console access logs for suspicious activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should be enforced in industrial control systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential cascading effects within industrial environments. Once an attacker gains the ability to modify configurations, they can potentially redirect network traffic, disable security features, or create backdoors for persistent access. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where these devices are critical infrastructure components, as the configuration changes could impact operational technology systems that require high availability and security. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing and validation of industrial devices before deployment in critical infrastructure environments. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar authorization bypass issues in their industrial control systems, as these devices often lack the robust security controls found in enterprise environments.