CVE-2020-7057 in DVR DS-7204HGHI-F1
Summary
by MITRE
Hikvision DVR DS-7204HGHI-F1 V4.0.1 build 180903 Web Version sends a different response for failed ISAPI/Security/sessionLogin/capabilities login attempts depending on whether the user account exists, which might make it easier to enumerate users. However, only about 4 or 5 failed logins are allowed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7057 affects Hikvision DVR DS-7204HGHI-F1 devices running firmware version 4.0.1 build 180903. This issue represents a security misconfiguration that exposes the system to user enumeration attacks through inconsistent error responses during authentication attempts. The device's web interface implements the ISAPI protocol for security session management, specifically the sessionLogin/capabilities endpoint, which serves as a critical access point for system authentication and authorization functions.
The technical flaw manifests in the inconsistent response behavior when authentication attempts fail. When attempting to log in with a non-existent user account, the system returns a different response compared to when a valid account is targeted with an incorrect password. This differential response behavior creates a timing and content-based distinguisher that attackers can exploit to determine which user accounts exist within the system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the authentication mechanism's error handling implementation, where the system fails to provide consistent error messaging regardless of the authentication outcome.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of the affected Hikvision devices by enabling account enumeration attacks. Attackers can systematically test various username combinations to identify valid accounts, which then provides a foundation for subsequent exploitation attempts such as brute force attacks or credential stuffing. The limitation of only four to five failed login attempts per session provides some protection against automated attacks but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as attackers can perform multiple attack sessions or use more sophisticated techniques to circumvent these restrictions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a specific instance of information disclosure through inconsistent error handling. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials, as the enumeration capability directly enables attackers to gather valid account information. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles where the system's response behavior inadvertently leaks information about account validity, violating the principle of least privilege and secure error handling.
Recommended mitigations include implementing consistent error responses for all authentication attempts regardless of account existence, enforcing stricter rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms, and applying the latest firmware updates from Hikvision that address this specific vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect and alert on unusual authentication patterns that may indicate enumeration attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations in other networked devices and systems.