CVE-2020-9477 in HGA12R-02 BRGCAA
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on HUMAX HGA12R-02 BRGCAA 1.1.53 devices. A vulnerability in the authentication functionality in the web-based interface could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to capture packets at the time of authentication and gain access to the cleartext password. An attacker could use this access to create a new user account or control the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9477 affects HUMAX HGA12R-02 BRGCAA 1.1.53 devices, representing a critical weakness in the device's web-based management interface authentication mechanism. This flaw stems from inadequate security measures during the authentication process, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to intercept and exploit sensitive information. The vulnerability specifically targets the transmission of authentication credentials, allowing unauthorized parties to capture network packets containing cleartext passwords during the login sequence. This represents a fundamental failure in secure communication protocols where sensitive data should be encrypted and protected from interception.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the device's failure to properly secure the authentication channel, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and packet capture operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by positioning themselves between the user and the device to capture the authentication traffic, thereby obtaining the cleartext password without requiring any prior credentials or sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple password theft, as the captured credentials can be used to establish new user accounts or assume full administrative control over the device. This particular weakness aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission, and represents a direct violation of secure authentication protocols.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of the affected network infrastructure. An unauthenticated remote attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the device's management interface, potentially leading to complete device compromise. The ability to create new user accounts provides persistent access mechanisms that could remain undetected for extended periods, while full administrative control allows for complete modification of device settings, network configurations, and potential use as a foothold for broader network infiltration. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage, and T1566 which involves social engineering through credential compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-9477 must focus on immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Device administrators should prioritize applying vendor patches or firmware updates that address the authentication implementation flaw, while also implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and packet capture activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should implement mandatory encryption requirements for all management interfaces and establish strict access control policies that limit administrative privileges. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper authentication protocol implementation, particularly in network infrastructure devices where unauthorized access can have cascading effects throughout the entire network infrastructure.