CVE-2024-23492 in WS203VICM
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2024
A weak encoding is used to transmit credentials for WS203VICM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2026
The vulnerability involves the use of insufficient encoding mechanisms during credential transmission for the WS203VICM system, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of authentication data, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive systems. The improper encoding scheme likely fails to adequately protect credentials during network transmission, making them susceptible to interception and decoding attacks. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in industrial control systems where WS203VICM may be deployed, as they can provide attackers with elevated privileges and system access that could compromise operational technology environments.
The technical flaw manifests through inadequate data encoding practices that fail to properly escape or encrypt authentication information during transmission. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-113, which addresses improper encoding in web applications, and potentially CWE-312, focusing on cleartext storage of sensitive data. The weakness creates opportunities for attackers to capture network traffic and extract credentials through various methods including packet sniffing, man-in-the-middle attacks, or network monitoring tools. The system's failure to implement robust encoding protocols means that usernames, passwords, or authentication tokens are transmitted in formats that can be easily reversed or decoded without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, potentially enabling attackers to gain persistent access to industrial control systems and disrupt critical operations. In environments where WS203VICM operates, such as manufacturing facilities or utility systems, unauthorized access could result in production halts, safety hazards, or data breaches that affect both operational continuity and regulatory compliance. The vulnerability creates a pathway for lateral movement within networks, allowing attackers who obtain credentials to escalate privileges and access additional system resources. This risk is compounded by the potential for credential reuse attacks where compromised authentication information can be leveraged across multiple systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strong encoding mechanisms that properly escape or encrypt authentication data during transmission. Organizations must ensure that all credential handling follows established security standards including those outlined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and ISO/IEC 27001 for information security controls. The implementation of secure communication protocols such as TLS 1.3 with strong cipher suites should be mandatory for any system transmitting authentication credentials. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce the impact of credential compromise, along with regular security assessments and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls can further limit the damage that could result from successful credential theft attacks.