CVE-2024-23788 in Energy Management Controller with Cloud Services
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2024
Server-side request forgery vulnerability in Energy Management Controller with Cloud Services JH-RVB1 /JH-RV11 Ver.B0.1.9.1 and earlier allows a network-adjacent unauthenticated attacker to send an arbitrary HTTP request (GET) from the affected product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2024-23788 vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw affecting Energy Management Controller devices with cloud services, specifically models JH-RVB1 and JH-RV11 running firmware versions B0.1.9.1 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the device's web interface functionality that processes HTTP requests from external sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior through crafted requests. The flaw enables an attacker positioned within the same network segment to exploit the device without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly enforced.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the device's HTTP request handling mechanisms. When the Energy Management Controller processes incoming requests to its cloud service interface, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the target URLs or parameters, allowing an attacker to inject malicious URLs that the device will subsequently request on behalf of the victim. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-918, which describes server-side request forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied URLs, enabling attackers to make unauthorized requests to internal or external systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests as an unauthenticated GET request execution, where the device acts as a proxy for attacker-controlled HTTP requests, potentially exposing internal network resources or facilitating further attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network systems that the device may not be authorized to access. An attacker could potentially leverage this vulnerability to access internal services, databases, or other networked devices that are normally protected by network segmentation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the device operates in energy management environments where sensitive operational data and control systems are typically present. This vulnerability can be exploited to gather intelligence about the internal network topology, identify vulnerable services, or even attempt to escalate privileges through access to internal systems that the device might have legitimate connections to. The lack of authentication requirements means that any device within the same network segment can potentially exploit this flaw, making it especially dangerous in shared network environments or when network segmentation is insufficient.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-23788 should focus on immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the underlying validation issues in the HTTP request processing. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical energy management systems from general network traffic, ensuring that devices with this vulnerability cannot easily reach internal systems. Network access control lists and firewall rules should be configured to restrict communication between the affected devices and internal services, particularly those that are not essential for the device's core functionality. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual HTTP request patterns or attempts to access internal resources can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary cloud service features when they are not actively required, as this reduces the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may attempt to use the device to make DNS requests to external servers. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other networked devices, particularly those with web interfaces that process external inputs. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing secure coding practices and input validation controls, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines for preventing such server-side request forgery scenarios.