CVE-2022-29733 in enteliTOUCH
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
Delta Controls enteliTOUCH 3.40.3935, 3.40.3706, and 3.33.4005 was discovered to transmit and store sensitive information in cleartext. This vulnerability allows attackers to intercept HTTP Cookie authentication credentials via a man-in-the-middle attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-29733 affects Delta Controls enteliTOUCH software versions 3.40.3935, 3.40.3706, and 3.33.4005, representing a critical security flaw in industrial control systems that compromises the confidentiality of authentication credentials. This vulnerability resides in the communication protocols used by the enteliTOUCH platform, which is commonly deployed in building automation and energy management systems. The flaw specifically manifests in the transmission and storage mechanisms where sensitive data, particularly HTTP cookies containing authentication tokens, are handled without proper encryption. This represents a fundamental failure in the security architecture of the software, creating an attack surface that directly violates industry security best practices and standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of secure communication channels for authentication data transmission. When users interact with the enteliTOUCH interface, HTTP cookies containing session identifiers and authentication credentials are transmitted over unencrypted connections, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors positioned between the client and server. This cleartext transmission directly maps to CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of authentication credentials. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks with minimal technical sophistication, as they can simply monitor network traffic to capture the unencrypted authentication tokens. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in industrial environments where such systems often operate in closed networks that may not implement robust network segmentation or monitoring controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it compromises the integrity of the entire building automation system. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the control system, potentially enabling them to modify building parameters, access sensitive operational data, or disrupt critical infrastructure operations. This represents a significant risk to industrial control system security, particularly in environments where building automation systems control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and other critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability creates an attack path that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering, though in this case the credentials are harvested through network interception rather than traditional phishing methods. Organizations using these software versions face potential regulatory compliance violations under standards such as NERC CIP, ISO 27001, and IEC 62443, which mandate proper protection of authentication credentials and secure communication protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-29733 require immediate implementation of network-level protections and software updates. Organizations should deploy network monitoring solutions to detect and prevent cleartext credential transmission, implement mandatory encryption for all communications, and ensure that all authentication data is transmitted over secure channels such as HTTPS with TLS 1.3. The recommended approach includes upgrading to patched versions of enteliTOUCH software, implementing network segmentation to isolate control systems, and deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for cleartext credential interception attempts. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive network audits to identify any additional systems that may be vulnerable to similar cleartext transmission issues, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security architecture weaknesses. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be implemented to verify that authentication credentials are properly protected and that network communications adhere to established security protocols, ensuring compliance with industry standards such as those specified in the ISO/IEC 27001 information security management framework.