CVE-2022-26971 in TransForm N
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
Barco Control Room Management Suite web application, which is part of TransForm N before 3.14, is exposing a license file upload mechanism. This upload can be executed without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2022
The Barco Control Room Management Suite represents a critical infrastructure component used in mission-critical environments such as control rooms, command centers, and surveillance operations. This suite provides centralized management capabilities for video wall systems and multimedia content delivery. The vulnerability exists within the web application interface of the TransForm N software version prior to 3.14, specifically exposing a license file upload mechanism that lacks proper authentication controls. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in an application designed for high-security environments where unauthorized access could compromise operational integrity.
The technical flaw manifests as an insecure direct object reference vulnerability combined with missing authentication checks. The license file upload functionality is accessible through a web endpoint that does not validate user credentials or authorization status before permitting file uploads. This vulnerability allows any remote attacker to upload files to the system without proper authentication, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or system compromise. The flaw directly maps to CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, demonstrating how multiple security weaknesses can compound to create severe operational risks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on Barco Control Room Management Suite for critical operations. Unauthorized file uploads could enable attackers to deploy malicious payloads, install backdoors, or modify system configurations that could disrupt operations or provide persistent access to sensitive environments. In control room scenarios, this vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, potentially affecting surveillance operations, emergency response systems, or industrial control processes. The lack of authentication validation means that even basic network reconnaissance could reveal this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security may be compromised. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access points or escalate privileges within the system, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing).
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-supplied patch for TransForm N version 3.14 or later, which addresses the authentication bypass vulnerability. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the affected web application from general network access, while strict firewall rules should be configured to limit access to only authorized administrative networks. Additional controls should include monitoring for unusual file upload activities, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious upload attempts, and conducting thorough security assessments of all control room management systems. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar authentication bypass issues in other mission-critical applications. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating access control policies to ensure proper authentication mechanisms are in place for all administrative functions within the control room environment, aligning with security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for privileged access management.