CVE-2023-43848 in PE6208
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2024
Incorrect access control in the firewall management function of web interface in Aten PE6208 2.3.228 and 2.4.232 allows remote authenticated users to alter local firewall settings of the device as if they were the administrator via HTTP POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2023-43848 represents a critical access control flaw within the web interface of Aten PE6208 network switch devices running firmware versions 2.3.228 and 2.4.232. This issue stems from improper validation of user privileges during firewall management operations, allowing authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and modify local firewall configurations. The flaw specifically affects the firewall management function within the device's web interface, where the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient administrative privileges to perform configuration changes. The vulnerability manifests through HTTP POST requests that target firewall management endpoints, enabling malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials to bypass normal access controls and assume administrative control over firewall settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web application's failure to enforce proper authorization checks when processing firewall configuration modifications. When an authenticated user submits a POST request to modify firewall rules, the system does not adequately validate the user's role or permissions before executing the requested changes. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation path where any authenticated user can manipulate firewall settings as if they were the device administrator. The flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and demonstrates how weak access control mechanisms can lead to unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where user requests are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only network access and valid credentials to exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for network security infrastructure, as it allows attackers to compromise firewall configurations that control network traffic flow and security policies. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can modify firewall rules to permit unauthorized access, block legitimate network traffic, or create backdoors for persistent access to the network. This capability directly violates fundamental network security principles and can result in complete network compromise, especially in environments where the PE6208 device serves as a critical network gateway or security boundary. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on proper firewall management for network segmentation and security enforcement, potentially exposing sensitive systems to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Aten to address the access control flaw, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and enhanced monitoring of firewall configuration changes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authorization checks in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering. Security teams should also implement network access controls to limit administrative access to these devices, employ intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized configuration changes, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establish strict change management procedures for firewall configurations to prevent unauthorized modifications that could compromise network security.