CVE-2022-25159 in MELSEC iQ-F FX5U(C)
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2022
Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerability in Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC iQ-F series FX5U(C) CPU all versions and Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC iQ-F series FX5UJ CPU all versions allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to login to the product by replay attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
The CVE-2022-25159 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting Mitsubishi Electric's MELSEC iQ-F series FX5U(C) and FX5UJ CPU devices across all firmware versions. This vulnerability resides within the authentication mechanism of these industrial control systems, specifically exposing a capture-replay attack vector that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access. The flaw fundamentally undermines the security posture of these devices by enabling attackers to exploit previously captured authentication credentials or session data to impersonate legitimate users and gain system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of authentication tokens and session identifiers within the communication protocols used by these industrial controllers. When legitimate authentication attempts occur, the system generates session data that should be time-bound and unique, but the flaw allows attackers to capture this data through network monitoring or packet sniffing techniques and subsequently replay it to establish unauthorized sessions. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-319 (CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) classifications, as the authentication mechanisms fail to properly protect sensitive session data during transmission and storage phases. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and leverages the absence of proper cryptographic session validation mechanisms that would normally prevent replay attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as these devices form critical components of industrial control systems and manufacturing environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially disrupt production processes, modify critical control parameters, or gain access to sensitive operational data that could compromise entire industrial operations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the devices, significantly expanding the attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where industrial systems are connected to corporate networks or the internet. This threat vector particularly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers could leverage compromised credentials or exploit the replay functionality to establish persistent access to industrial control systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust cryptographic protections for authentication tokens and session identifiers, including the deployment of time-based validation mechanisms and unique session identifiers that expire after specific intervals. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these industrial devices to untrusted networks, while regular firmware updates and security patches should be applied immediately upon availability. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous authentication patterns and replay attacks, and establish comprehensive security awareness training for personnel managing these industrial control systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper authentication protocols in industrial environments and highlights the need for continuous security assessments of operational technology infrastructure to prevent similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities from compromising critical industrial processes.