CVE-2022-24657 in ASIC Miner
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2022
Goldshell ASIC Miners v2.1.x was discovered to contain hardcoded credentials which allow attackers to remotely connect via the SSH protocol (port 22).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24657 affects Goldshell ASIC miners running version 2.1.x and represents a critical security flaw that exposes devices to unauthorized remote access. This issue stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the device firmware, creating a persistent backdoor that undermines the security posture of cryptocurrency mining operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices that utilize SSH protocol for remote management and monitoring functions, making it particularly dangerous for industrial IoT deployments where physical security may be limited.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of hardcoded username and password combinations directly within the firmware code during the development phase. These credentials are typically stored in plain text format within configuration files or source code repositories, making them easily discoverable through reverse engineering or static code analysis. When attackers obtain these hardcoded credentials, they can establish unauthorized SSH sessions on port 22 without requiring any additional authentication factors or privileged access. This flaw falls under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software implementations, and represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices that violates industry standards for authentication security.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-24657 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with persistent control over mining operations that can be exploited for various malicious activities. Once compromised, affected devices can be used to mine cryptocurrency for attackers, serve as entry points for lateral movement within network environments, or be leveraged for botnet formation in distributed denial-of-service attacks. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access to the mining hardware. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1021.004, which describes remote services exploitation, and represents a significant threat to the integrity and profitability of cryptocurrency mining operations.
Organizations utilizing Goldshell ASIC miners should immediately implement comprehensive remediation strategies to address this vulnerability. The most effective immediate mitigation involves changing all default credentials through secure configuration management processes, although this approach is limited by the hardcoded nature of the credentials. Network segmentation and firewall rule implementation to block external SSH access on port 22 can provide temporary protection while more permanent solutions are deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential management and secure software development practices, as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 control CM-7 for configuration management and ISO/IEC 27001 controls related to access control and information security management. Device firmware updates from the manufacturer should be prioritized, though the hardcoded credential issue may require complete device replacement in some cases. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked devices within the mining infrastructure.