CVE-2022-1070 in TUG Home Base Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2022
Aethon TUG Home Base Server versions prior to version 24 are affected by un unauthenticated attacker who can freely access hashed user credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1070 affects Aethon TUG Home Base Server versions prior to 24, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the authentication mechanisms of this autonomous underwater vehicle management system. This issue stems from insufficient access controls that allow any unauthenticated attacker to obtain hashed user credentials without requiring valid authentication tokens or privileged access. The affected system serves as a central management hub for autonomous underwater vehicles, making it a potentially attractive target for adversaries seeking to compromise underwater robotic systems used in various industrial and research applications.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the server's credential handling and access control mechanisms, where the system fails to properly validate authentication requests before exposing sensitive credential data. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, specifically targeting the lack of proper access control validation. The flaw essentially creates an information disclosure vulnerability where hashed credentials are exposed through unauthenticated API endpoints or administrative interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly accessing specific network endpoints that should only be accessible to authenticated administrators, thereby gaining unauthorized access to credential storage mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as the exposed hashed credentials can be targeted through offline password cracking attacks to recover plaintext passwords. This compromise directly affects the security posture of underwater vehicle operations, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to vehicle control systems, manipulate mission parameters, or disrupt ongoing operations. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to industrial cybersecurity frameworks, particularly in sectors where autonomous underwater vehicles are deployed for critical infrastructure monitoring, offshore exploration, or military applications. The exposure of hashed credentials also violates fundamental security principles outlined in NIST SP 800-63B, which emphasizes the importance of protecting authentication data and maintaining proper access controls.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched version 24 or later, which addresses the authentication bypass vulnerability through proper access control enforcement. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the Home Base Server to authorized personnel only, while also establishing robust monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The implementation of multi-factor authentication should be considered for administrative access, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other industrial control systems. Additionally, organizations should ensure that credential storage follows industry best practices including proper hashing algorithms and salt usage to minimize the impact of any potential credential exposure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control implementation in industrial IoT systems, aligning with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's focus on credential access and defense evasion techniques that adversaries might employ to compromise industrial control systems.