CVE-2023-4203 in EKI-1524
Summary
by MITRE • 08/08/2023
Advantech EKI-1524, EKI-1522, EKI-1521 devices through 1.21 are affected by a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability, which can be triggered by authenticated users in the ping tool of the web-interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2023
The Advantech EKI-1524, EKI-1522, and EKI-1521 industrial network devices represent critical infrastructure components that serve as industrial ethernet switches and communication gateways in manufacturing and industrial control systems. These devices operate within the operational technology (OT) domain, where they facilitate network connectivity between industrial equipment and enterprise networks. The vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these devices, specifically within the ping tool functionality that allows network diagnostics and testing. This presents a significant risk as these devices are often deployed in environments where they maintain continuous network connectivity and may be accessible from multiple network segments including both internal industrial networks and external enterprise networks.
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-00000079) resides in the device's web interface implementation where user-supplied input from the ping tool is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored and subsequently rendered in the web page output. When authenticated users interact with the ping functionality, they can inject malicious javascript code into the device's configuration or monitoring systems. This injection occurs because the device fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the device's web server and executed whenever the affected page is accessed by any user, including administrators. The attack requires authentication to the device's web interface, which means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, though this is often achievable through various means including credential reuse, default credential exploitation, or social engineering attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web interface compromise and represents a serious threat to industrial network security. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code within the context of the web server, potentially leading to complete device compromise, unauthorized access to industrial network communications, or the ability to manipulate network traffic routing. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even after an initial attack, the malicious payload remains persistent and can affect all users who access the affected web interface. This is particularly concerning in industrial environments where these devices may be managed by multiple personnel, and where the device's network monitoring capabilities are critical for operational security. The vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within industrial networks, potentially leading to more severe consequences including disruption of industrial processes, data exfiltration, or even physical system compromise through cascading attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Advantech to address the stored XSS flaw, along with network segmentation to limit access to these devices to authorized personnel only. Organizations should implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, ensuring that default credentials are changed and that multi-factor authentication is enabled where possible. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding practices in industrial web interfaces, aligning with security best practices from the industrial control systems community and the ATT&CK framework's tactics related to credential access and execution. Additionally, regular security assessments of industrial network infrastructure should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other industrial devices and systems within the operational technology environment.