CVE-2020-6993 in PT-7528
Summary
by MITRE
In Moxa PT-7528 series firmware, Version 4.0 or lower, and PT-7828 series firmware, Version 3.9 or lower, an attacker can gain access to sensitive information from the web service without authorization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6993 affects Moxa PT-7528 and PT-7828 series industrial communication devices where the firmware versions 4.0 and lower for PT-7528 and 3.9 and lower for PT-7828 are impacted. This represents a critical security flaw in industrial network infrastructure equipment that serves as a bridge between operational technology and information technology systems. These devices are commonly deployed in industrial environments for data acquisition, protocol conversion, and network communication management, making their security paramount to overall operational resilience.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient authentication mechanism within the web service interface of these industrial devices. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access sensitive information without proper authorization, bypassing the intended security controls that should protect system configuration data, user credentials, and operational parameters. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, specifically addressing weak access controls and inadequate session management within the web interface components. The flaw stems from the absence of proper authentication checks or the implementation of flawed authentication logic that allows unauthenticated users to retrieve privileged information through direct access to web service endpoints.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for further exploitation within industrial environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could obtain system configuration details, network settings, user accounts, and potentially sensitive operational data that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. The implications are particularly severe in industrial control systems where such information could reveal network topology, device configurations, or operational parameters that could be used to plan targeted attacks against critical infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers could use the disclosed information to craft more convincing social engineering campaigns or to map network structures for deeper penetration.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates to the latest available versions that address this authentication weakness. The affected devices should be isolated from untrusted networks and access to their web interfaces should be restricted through network segmentation and firewall rules. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to these devices, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other industrial equipment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing robust access controls in industrial environments, as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443 standards for industrial automation and control systems security.