CVE-2022-2302 in cabinet c520
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2022
Multiple Lenze products of the cabinet series skip the password verification upon second login. After a user has been logged on to the device once, a remote attacker can get full access without knowledge of the password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2302 affects multiple Lenze cabinet series products, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of these industrial devices. This weakness exists in the authentication mechanism implementation where the system fails to properly validate user credentials during subsequent login attempts, creating a persistent backdoor that remains accessible regardless of password knowledge. The flaw specifically manifests in the second login scenario, where the device incorrectly assumes the user is authenticated without revalidating the password, effectively removing the need for legitimate credential knowledge.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from improper session management and authentication state handling within the affected Lenze products. The system maintains an insecure session state that does not properly enforce credential revalidation, allowing unauthorized access to remain persistent across login sessions. This represents a classic implementation flaw that falls under CWE-287, which addresses authentication bypass issues, and more specifically aligns with CWE-305, concerning authentication bypass through use of a privileged account. The vulnerability demonstrates poor adherence to security best practices in session management, where the system should enforce credential validation on each access attempt rather than relying on cached authentication states.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for industrial environments that rely on these Lenze cabinet series devices for critical infrastructure control. A remote attacker who gains initial access to the device can maintain persistent unauthorized access without needing to know or guess the password, effectively providing unlimited access to system controls, configuration settings, and potentially connected industrial processes. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials for unauthorized access, and T1566.001 for social engineering through credential theft, as the attacker can exploit this flaw to maintain access indefinitely. The persistent nature of this access means that even if the legitimate user logs out or the device is rebooted, the attacker can simply re-authenticate without credentials.
The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as these industrial cabinet series products are typically deployed in environments where they control critical manufacturing processes, power distribution systems, or other essential infrastructure. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially manipulate industrial controls, disrupt operations, or gain access to sensitive operational data. The remote nature of the attack means that no physical access is required, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security measures might otherwise provide some protection. Organizations should immediately assess their deployment of Lenze cabinet series products and implement mitigations including network segmentation, access controls, and firmware updates to address this authentication bypass vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session management controls, enforcing credential revalidation on all access attempts, and ensuring that authentication mechanisms properly handle session states. Network segmentation and access control lists should be implemented to limit access to these devices to only authorized personnel. Regular security assessments and firmware updates should be conducted to address similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the industrial control system. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication design principles and demonstrates the need for comprehensive security testing of industrial control systems to identify and remediate authentication bypass flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.