CVE-2022-3485 in Moneo Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
In IFM Moneo Appliance with version up to 1.9.3 an unauthenticated remote attacker can reset the administrator password by only supplying the serial number.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-3485 represents a critical security flaw in IFM Moneo Appliance firmware versions up to 1.9.3, where an unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit a design weakness to reset administrator credentials simply by providing the device's serial number. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and improper privilege management as classified by CWE-287, which specifically addresses authentication failures that allow unauthorized access to administrative functions. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper access controls and authentication requirements for critical administrative operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an insecure password reset mechanism that does not require proper authentication or verification of the requester's identity. Attackers can remotely submit a reset request using only the serial number, which serves as the sole authentication factor for administrative access recovery. This design flaw allows for privilege escalation attacks where an attacker can gain full administrative control over the device without needing legitimate credentials, network access, or physical presence. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited over network connections, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these appliances are exposed to untrusted networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables complete compromise of the affected appliances without requiring any specialized tools or deep technical knowledge. Once an attacker successfully resets the administrator password, they gain full control over the device's configuration, monitoring capabilities, and access to sensitive network information. This compromise can lead to unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the appliance's operational environment, as well as potentially undermining the security posture of any network where these devices are deployed.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring for unauthorized password reset attempts. The remediation process should involve verifying that the updated firmware properly implements authentication requirements for administrative functions and that password reset mechanisms require multiple factors of authentication. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing access control lists and firewall rules to restrict access to these appliances only to authorized network segments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to administrative functions. The affected devices should undergo thorough security assessments to ensure no other similar weaknesses exist within the appliance's operational environment.