CVE-2022-31485 in LP1501
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2022
An unauthenticated attacker can send a specially crafted packets to update the “notes” section of the home page of the web interface. This vulnerability impacts products based on HID Mercury Intelligent Controllers LP1501, LP1502, LP2500, LP4502, and EP4502 which contain firmware versions prior to 1.29.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in HID Mercury Intelligent Controllers that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to modify critical web interface content. The vulnerability specifically targets the home page notes section of affected devices, enabling attackers to inject malicious content without requiring any authentication credentials or privileged access. The impacted product line includes several models such as LP1501, LP1502, LP2500, LP4502, and EP4502, all of which are susceptible to this manipulation when running firmware versions prior to 1.29. This represents a significant weakness in the device's access control mechanisms and content management system, as it violates fundamental security principles of authentication and authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the web interface's administrative functions. Attackers can craft specially formatted network packets that bypass authentication requirements and directly modify the notes field of the home page, potentially allowing for the injection of malicious scripts, phishing content, or other harmful materials. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without any prior access credentials, making it particularly dangerous for industrial control systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication mechanisms. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates an attack surface that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including information gathering, social engineering attacks, and potential escalation to more serious system compromises.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content modification, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks against the affected industrial control systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially use the modified notes section as a vector for delivering malicious payloads to users who visit the web interface, or as a means of hiding malicious activities within the system's administrative interface. The vulnerability affects industrial environments where these controllers are deployed, potentially compromising the integrity of critical infrastructure management systems. This weakness could enable attackers to manipulate system status information, hide malicious activities, or create confusion among legitimate operators. The attack can be executed from any location with network access to the affected devices, making it particularly concerning for environments where physical security measures may be insufficient. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in relation to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers Phishing, and T1071, which addresses Application Layer Protocol usage, as the modified interface content could be used to facilitate further attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates to version 1.29 or later, which would address the authentication bypass vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit unauthorized access to these devices, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual modifications to web interface content. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other industrial control systems. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in industrial environments and demonstrates the necessity of robust access control mechanisms even for seemingly benign administrative functions. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems and regular security audits can help identify exploitation attempts and prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system interfaces.