CVE-2022-29560 in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000RE (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1400 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1500 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1501 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1510 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1511 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1512 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1524 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1536 (All versions < 2.15.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX5000 (All versions < 2.15.1). Affected devices do not properly validate user input, making them susceptible to command injection. An attacker with access to either the shell or the web CLI with administrator privileges could access the underlying operating system as the root user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2022
This vulnerability resides within RUGGEDCOM ROX series industrial networking devices including various MX and RX models across multiple firmware versions. The core issue manifests as a command injection flaw that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the device's administrative interfaces. When administrators interact with the shell or web CLI interfaces using elevated privileges, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands. This fundamental weakness allows maliciously crafted input to be executed as part of the underlying operating system commands, effectively bypassing normal access controls and privilege boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 classifications, representing command injection vulnerabilities that enable arbitrary code execution. Attackers leveraging this flaw can escalate their privileges from administrative access to full root-level control over the device's operating system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides complete system compromise, enabling attackers to modify device configurations, extract sensitive data, install backdoors, or even render the device inoperable. This represents a critical security weakness in industrial networking equipment where device integrity and operational continuity are paramount.
From an operational perspective, the vulnerability creates significant risk for industrial environments that rely on these ruggedized networking solutions for critical infrastructure protection. The affected devices operate in environments where network security is paramount, including transportation systems, energy grids, and industrial control networks. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple models within the RUGGEDCOM ROX series indicates a systemic design flaw that requires immediate attention across affected deployments. Organizations utilizing these devices face potential compromise of their entire network segment if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, as these devices often serve as gateways or critical communication nodes.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites since it targets administrative interfaces that are typically accessible to authorized personnel. However, the attack vector becomes significantly more dangerous when considering that the vulnerability enables root-level access, which provides attackers with complete control over device operations and data handling capabilities. The affected firmware versions prior to 2.15.1 represent a substantial portion of deployed devices, suggesting widespread exposure across industrial networks. Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 2.15.1 or later, which would address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in industrial control systems, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and command execution. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across their industrial network infrastructure to identify other potentially affected devices and implement layered security controls to prevent exploitation attempts.