CVE-2023-0347 in E11
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2023
The Akuvox E11 Media Access Control (MAC) address, a primary identifier, combined with the Akuvox E11 IP address, could allow an attacker to identify the device on the Akuvox cloud.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2023
The Akuvox E11 Media Access Control address vulnerability represents a significant security weakness in IoT device identification mechanisms that exposes critical infrastructure to targeted attacks. This vulnerability stems from the device's reliance on predictable MAC address patterns combined with IP address exposure, creating a deterministic identification vector that adversaries can exploit to map and target specific devices within network environments. The issue manifests when the device's MAC address, which serves as a unique hardware identifier, is transmitted alongside its IP address in cloud communications, allowing unauthorized parties to correlate these identifiers and establish device profiles.
The technical flaw lies in the insufficient obfuscation of device identifiers within the communication protocols used by the Akuvox E11 system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper information hiding, and specifically relates to the exposure of sensitive identifiers that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The MAC address, being a persistent hardware identifier, combined with the IP address that changes less frequently, creates a stable fingerprint that attackers can use to track device behavior and maintain persistent access to network resources. This weakness enables threat actors to perform reconnaissance activities that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without such predictable identification mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device identification, creating a pathway for more sophisticated attacks including device impersonation, targeted denial of service operations, and potential escalation to broader network compromise. Attackers can leverage this information to conduct device-specific attacks, manipulate device configurations, or use the identified devices as entry points for lateral movement within corporate networks. The exposure of these identifiers through cloud communications creates a persistent threat vector that remains active even when network boundaries are properly secured, as the vulnerability exists at the device-level communication protocol implementation.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing randomized MAC address generation, employing secure communication protocols that do not expose device identifiers, and establishing proper network segmentation to limit the impact of such exposures. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of device identification exposure and establish secure device provisioning processes that do not rely on predictable identifier patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following NIST SP 800-53 security controls related to system and information integrity, particularly controls that address the protection of system identifiers and the implementation of secure communication practices. Additionally, adherence to ATT&CK technique T1583.001 for acquiring resources through supply chain compromise and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage should be considered to prevent exploitation of such predictable identification mechanisms.