CVE-2023-25189 in BTS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2024
BTS is affected by information disclosure vulnerability where mobile network operator personnel connected over BTS Web Element Manager, regardless of the access privileges, having a possibility to read BTS service operation details performed by Nokia Care service personnel via SSH.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Nokia's Base Transceiver Station (BTS) infrastructure that undermines the security boundaries between different operational roles within mobile network environments. The issue manifests when authorized personnel from mobile network operators access the BTS Web Element Manager system, which should typically enforce strict access controls and role-based permissions. However, the vulnerability allows these operators to bypass normal access restrictions and obtain sensitive operational details that should only be visible to authorized Nokia Care service personnel who maintain the equipment via secure shell connections.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate privilege separation mechanisms within the BTS Web Element Manager interface, where the system fails to properly enforce access control policies between different user roles. This creates a scenario where operator personnel can potentially access service operation details that are normally restricted to Nokia Care personnel who perform maintenance and support functions through secure shell sessions. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security boundary that should exist between network operator roles and vendor support personnel, creating a significant risk of unauthorized access to operational information that could reveal system configurations, maintenance activities, and potentially sensitive network parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security architecture of the mobile network infrastructure. Attackers or malicious insiders within the operator organization could exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about network operations, maintenance schedules, and system configurations that could be used for further attacks or to understand the network's operational vulnerabilities. This type of information leakage could enable more sophisticated attacks including social engineering, targeted exploitation of known maintenance windows, or identification of system weaknesses that could be leveraged for broader network compromise.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a failure in implementing proper role-based access control mechanisms. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) in scenarios where operator accounts are used to access restricted information, though the primary concern here is internal access control rather than account compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where the system does not properly validate user roles and permissions when accessing sensitive operational information. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced access control reviews, privileged access management solutions, and regular security audits of network infrastructure management interfaces.
The broader implications suggest that this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a multi-stage attack where initial access is gained through legitimate operator credentials, followed by information gathering to plan more sophisticated network infiltration. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in telecommunications infrastructure where the confidentiality and integrity of operational information directly impacts network security. Network operators should conduct comprehensive assessments of their BTS management interfaces and ensure that proper segregation of duties is implemented between operational personnel and vendor support roles. Additionally, regular security training for network personnel should emphasize the importance of maintaining proper access controls and understanding the security implications of information disclosure vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure systems.