CVE-2021-41847 in Infinias Access Control
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2021
An issue was discovered in 3xLogic Infinias Access Control through 6.7.10708.0, affecting physical security. Users with login credentials assigned to a specific zone can send modified HTTP GET and POST requests, allowing them to view user data such as personal information and Prox card credentials. Also, an authorized user of one zone can send API requests to unlock electronic locks associated with zones they are unauthorized to have access to. They can also create new user logins for zones they were not authorized to access, including the root zone of the software.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2021-41847 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in 3xLogic Infinias Access Control systems, specifically affecting versions through 6.7.10708.0. This issue fundamentally undermines the physical security infrastructure by allowing authenticated users to escalate their privileges and access unauthorized zones within the access control system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms within the web-based API endpoints that govern the system's functionality. Attackers exploiting this flaw can manipulate HTTP GET and POST requests to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data including personal information and proximity card credentials, effectively compromising the integrity of the entire access control ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks within the application's API layer. When users with credentials assigned to a specific zone attempt to interact with the system, the application fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has legitimate access rights to the target zone or associated resources. This weakness allows attackers to modify request parameters and bypass the normal access control enforcement mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized zone traversal. The vulnerability specifically affects the system's API endpoints that handle user management, lock control, and data retrieval operations, where proper authentication tokens are not sufficient to prevent privilege escalation. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which is a fundamental weakness in access control implementation that can lead to severe security implications when exploited.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-41847 extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it enables attackers to perform active manipulation of the physical security infrastructure. Authorized users can not only view sensitive information but can also unlock electronic locks in zones they are not permitted to access, effectively creating a backdoor into secured areas. Additionally, the ability to create new user logins, including root-level accounts in the software's root zone, provides attackers with persistent access to the system and the capability to establish long-term control over the entire access control environment. This vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to compromise physical security boundaries, potentially allowing unauthorized individuals to gain access to restricted facilities, manipulate access logs, and undermine the trust model that the access control system is designed to maintain.
Organizations utilizing 3xLogic Infinias Access Control systems should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves strengthening the API endpoint access controls by implementing robust input validation and ensuring that all requests undergo proper authorization checks before processing. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit direct access to the system's administrative interfaces and API endpoints, while also deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP requests. Regular security audits of API endpoints and access control configurations should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage compromised credentials to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to additional system resources. System administrators should also implement strict monitoring of user activities, particularly around zone access attempts and user creation operations, to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability to address this specific vulnerability and prevent similar issues from arising in the future.