CVE-2023-0348 in E11
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2023
Akuvox E11 allows direct SIP calls. No access control is enforced by the SIP servers, which could allow an attacker to contact any device within Akuvox to call any other device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0348 affects Akuvox E11 security devices that operate using Session Initiation Protocol for voice communications. This issue represents a critical flaw in the device's security architecture where the SIP servers lack proper access control mechanisms. The absence of authentication and authorization checks creates an environment where malicious actors can exploit the system to establish direct SIP connections without any restrictions. This fundamental security weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a severe failure in implementing proper network segmentation and access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the device's failure to enforce mandatory access controls on its SIP communication channels. When the Akuvox E11 device receives SIP signaling messages, it does not validate the identity of the calling party or verify that the connection attempt originates from an authorized source. This allows attackers to craft and send SIP INVITE messages directly to target devices within the same network segment. The vulnerability specifically affects the SIP server component of the device which is responsible for handling incoming and outgoing voice communication requests. According to CWE-306, this represents a missing access control check where the system fails to properly authenticate users before granting access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant risks for the affected organization's communication infrastructure. An attacker with network access can leverage this vulnerability to make unauthorized calls to any device within the Akuvox system, potentially leading to eavesdropping on sensitive conversations, making fraudulent calls, or disrupting normal communication operations. The vulnerability enables a form of privilege escalation where unauthorized users can gain access to the entire communication ecosystem managed by the Akuvox device. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of legitimate credentials to access systems and the exploitation of network services to establish unauthorized communication channels.
Organizations using Akuvox E11 devices should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments and implement proper firewall rules to restrict SIP traffic to authorized sources only. The recommended mitigations include configuring access control lists on network devices to limit SIP port access, implementing strong authentication mechanisms for SIP communications, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized SIP signaling activity. Additionally, the device firmware should be updated to the latest version provided by Akuvox that includes proper access control enforcement for SIP communications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense in depth strategies and proper network architecture design to prevent lateral movement and unauthorized access to critical communication infrastructure. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked communication devices and ensure that all network services implement proper authentication and authorization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and maintain the integrity of their communication systems.