CVE-2023-53776 in Screen SFT DAB
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2025
Screen SFT DAB 1.9.3 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to exploit weak session management by reusing IP-bound session identifiers. Attackers can issue unauthorized requests to the device management API by leveraging the session binding mechanism to perform critical operations on the transmitter.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-53776 affects Screen SFT DAB version 1.9.3 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the device's security posture. This vulnerability stems from inadequate session management practices where the system fails to properly validate session identifiers against the originating IP address, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to critical device management functions. The flaw specifically targets the session binding mechanism that should normally prevent session hijacking attacks by ensuring that session identifiers remain tied to their original source IP addresses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weak session management controls that allow attackers to reuse valid session identifiers across different IP addresses. When a legitimate user establishes a session with the device management API, the system should maintain strict binding between the session identifier and the originating IP address. However, in the affected Screen SFT DAB 1.9.3 implementation, this binding mechanism is either absent or insufficiently enforced, enabling attackers to capture a valid session token and subsequently use it from a different IP address to impersonate the legitimate user. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of session management and authentication controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows attackers to perform critical operations on the transmitter without proper authorization. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain the ability to execute administrative commands, modify device configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially disrupt the entire broadcasting infrastructure. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential service disruption, data compromise, and unauthorized control over critical communication systems that may be used for emergency services, public broadcasting, or commercial transmission services. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the device management API that bypasses all normal authentication mechanisms.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session binding, and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078.1.001 for Valid Accounts: Default Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment. The weak session management implementation creates an environment where attackers can leverage session reuse attacks without requiring additional credentials or complex exploitation techniques. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including strengthening session binding mechanisms, implementing proper IP address validation for session identifiers, and deploying additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication to protect against this type of attack vector. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper session management practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-163 and OWASP Top Ten security guidelines.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical sophistication and can be accomplished through standard network reconnaissance and session capture techniques. Attackers typically need only to monitor network traffic to capture valid session tokens and then use those tokens from an alternate IP address to gain unauthorized access. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with limited resources and technical expertise. The long-term implications include potential compromise of entire broadcasting networks if multiple devices in the same infrastructure are affected by similar vulnerabilities, creating cascading security failures that could impact critical infrastructure services.