CVE-2021-35979 in RealPort
Summary
by MITRE • 10/08/2021
An issue was discovered in Digi RealPort through 4.8.488.0. The 'encrypted' mode is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks and does not perform authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-35979 affects Digi RealPort software version 4.8.488.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the network communication protocols. This issue specifically impacts the encrypted mode functionality, which is designed to provide secure communication channels but fails to implement proper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from a fundamental design flaw where the system claims to offer encrypted communication while simultaneously lacking the cryptographic authentication required to verify the identity of communicating parties. This creates a dangerous false sense of security for users who believe their communications are protected against unauthorized access or interception.
The technical flaw manifests in the implementation of the encrypted mode functionality where the system does not perform proper authentication of the remote endpoint before establishing secure communication channels. According to CWE-310, this represents a cryptographic weakness where the system fails to properly authenticate entities involved in the communication process. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting and modifying network traffic between legitimate parties. This weakness is particularly concerning as it directly violates the principle of mutual authentication that should be inherent in any secure communication protocol, making the system susceptible to various attack vectors including session hijacking and data tampering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it fundamentally undermines the integrity of the communication infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish unauthorized connections with the affected system, potentially gaining access to sensitive operational data or disrupting critical communication processes. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Digi RealPort for remote management and monitoring of network devices, creating exposure for industrial control systems, network infrastructure, and remote access solutions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing for Information) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as attackers can use this weakness to establish unauthorized access and then enumerate network services. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the RealPort software is used for critical infrastructure management, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized control over network devices or extract sensitive operational information.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including disabling the vulnerable encrypted mode functionality until a patched version is deployed, implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and monitoring network traffic for signs of man-in-the-middle activity. The recommended approach involves enforcing proper authentication mechanisms at the network level, implementing additional security controls such as certificate-based authentication, and ensuring that all communication channels undergo rigorous verification before establishing secure connections. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual network activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any additional weaknesses in the network infrastructure that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability.