CVE-2023-4739 in Smart S85F Management Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 09/03/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Beijing Baichuo Smart S85F Management Platform up to 20230820 on Smart. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /sysmanage/updateos.php. The manipulation of the argument 1_file_upload leads to unrestricted upload. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-238628. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4739 represents a critical security flaw in the Beijing Baichuo Smart S85F Management Platform version 20230820, exposing a dangerous unrestricted file upload vulnerability within the system's management interface. This issue resides in the /sysmanage/updateos.php file where the 1_file_upload parameter fails to properly validate or sanitize file inputs, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to upload arbitrary files to the affected system. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its potential for remote code execution and the fact that a public exploit has already been disclosed, making it immediately actionable by threat actors. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts further compounds the risk, leaving users without official patches or mitigation guidance during an active exploitation window.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-434, which specifically addresses unrestricted file upload flaws where applications accept file uploads without proper validation of file types, sizes, or content. The attack vector is remote, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication. The flaw allows for the upload of malicious files such as web shells, scripts, or binary executables that can be executed on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability enables threat actors to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and move laterally within the network infrastructure controlled by the management platform. The exploitation process typically involves uploading a malicious payload through the vulnerable file upload endpoint, then accessing that payload via a web browser or other means to execute commands on the target server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for broader network infiltration and data exfiltration. Organizations using the Baichuo Smart S85F Management Platform face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network management systems, potentially exposing sensitive infrastructure information and creating opportunities for further attacks. The management platform likely controls critical network functions and device configurations, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous for industrial control systems or network infrastructure deployments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deploy malware, establish backdoors, or use the compromised system as a pivot point to target other network segments. The disclosure of the exploit publicly means that automated scanning tools can identify vulnerable systems, increasing the probability of exploitation and making the platform an attractive target for opportunistic attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate the vulnerable management platform from critical network segments, disable or restrict access to the affected updateos.php endpoint, and deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file upload activities. The most effective immediate mitigation involves applying vendor patches if available, though the lack of vendor response suggests that organizations may need to implement temporary workarounds such as disabling the file upload functionality entirely or implementing strict file type validation at the network level. Security teams should conduct comprehensive network scans to identify any systems that may have already been compromised through this vulnerability and establish monitoring procedures for unusual file upload patterns or newly created files in system directories. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and ensuring proper access controls on management interfaces can help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity for timely vendor response to security disclosures, particularly in industrial control systems where the consequences of exploitation can be severe.