CVE-2023-46711 in VR-S1000
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2023
VR-S1000 firmware Ver. 2.37 and earlier uses a hard-coded cryptographic key which may allow an attacker to analyze the password of a specific product user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46711 affects the VR-S1000 firmware version 2.37 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the device's authentication and encryption mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized parties to compromise user credentials and gain illicit access to the system. The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of a fixed cryptographic key within the firmware code, which violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent backdoor for attackers who can discover and exploit this hardcoded element.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the embedding of a static cryptographic key directly into the firmware binary during development, rather than generating unique keys per device or user. This approach fundamentally undermines the security model of the device, as the key becomes discoverable through reverse engineering or firmware analysis techniques. When an attacker successfully identifies this hard-coded key, they can decrypt password hashes or other encrypted data stored within the device's memory, enabling them to recover user credentials and potentially escalate privileges within the system. This weakness directly maps to CWE-320: "Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key" which classifies such implementations as a critical security flaw due to their predictable nature and the ease with which attackers can exploit them.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-46711 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the VR-S1000 device and potentially the broader network it connects to. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can analyze and recover user passwords, which may then be used to access other systems where the same credentials are reused, creating a cascading security risk. The vulnerability affects the authentication integrity of the device, potentially allowing attackers to modify device settings, access stored data, or even perform man-in-the-middle attacks against communications between the device and its users. This risk is particularly concerning for IoT devices that may control critical infrastructure or sensitive environments where unauthorized access could lead to operational disruptions or data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from the vendor to replace the hard-coded key with a dynamically generated or device-specific cryptographic element. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the exposure of affected devices and monitor for unusual access patterns or authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation. The implementation of proper key management practices, including the use of unique device identifiers and secure key generation mechanisms, should be enforced in all future firmware development cycles. Security teams should also consider conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all networked devices to identify similar hard-coded cryptographic elements and ensure compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the NIST SP 800-57 framework for cryptographic key management. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of following ATT&CK technique T1552.001: "Credentials: Login Keys" in threat modeling exercises, as this flaw represents a direct compromise of authentication mechanisms through the exploitation of hardcoded cryptographic elements.