CVE-2022-3083 in E850
Summary
by MITRE • 02/01/2023
All versions of Landis+Gyr E850 (ZMQ200) are vulnerable to CWE-784: Reliance on Cookies Without Validation and Integrity. The device's web application navigation depends on the value of the session cookie. The web application could become inaccessible for the user if an attacker changes the cookie values.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2023
The Landis+Gyr E850 ZMQ200 smart meter represents a critical infrastructure device widely deployed in energy management systems across various industrial and commercial environments. This device operates as a sophisticated metering solution that requires secure web-based administration and monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability identified in CVE-2022-3083 exposes fundamental security flaws in the device's authentication mechanism, specifically targeting the session management component that governs user access and application navigation. The affected device operates within the broader context of smart grid infrastructure where unauthorized access could potentially disrupt energy distribution services and compromise operational security.
The technical flaw manifests through CWE-784 classification, which describes systems that rely on cookies without proper validation and integrity checks. In the E850 ZMQ200 device, the web application navigation directly depends on session cookie values that are not adequately verified or protected against modification. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and lack of cryptographic integrity protection mechanisms within the session management framework. Attackers can manipulate cookie values to bypass authentication controls, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions or disrupting normal device operations. The absence of proper cookie validation creates a pathway for session hijacking attacks where malicious actors can impersonate legitimate users and execute unauthorized commands within the device's web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypasses, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of critical energy infrastructure. When an attacker modifies cookie values, they can render the web application inaccessible to legitimate users while simultaneously gaining unauthorized access themselves. This creates a scenario where system administrators lose control over device access, potentially leading to service disruption or unauthorized configuration changes that could affect power distribution. The vulnerability affects all versions of the device, indicating a fundamental flaw in the software architecture rather than a specific patchable issue. This widespread impact across multiple firmware versions suggests that the device's authentication mechanisms were not properly designed with security best practices in mind, creating persistent exposure risks for organizations relying on this equipment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session management controls that include cryptographic integrity protection for session cookies, regular session validation checks, and robust input sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should consider implementing additional authentication layers beyond cookie-based systems, such as multi-factor authentication or certificate-based access controls. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves credential harvesting through social engineering or exploitation of authentication mechanisms, and T1071 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Security patches should address the core issue of cookie validation without breaking existing legitimate user sessions, requiring careful implementation of cryptographic integrity checks that maintain operational continuity while strengthening authentication security.