CVE-2024-45250 in iClock
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2024
ZKteco – CWE 200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45250 affects ZKteco devices and represents a critical exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors, categorized under CWE-200. This flaw manifests in systems where sensitive data is inadvertently made accessible to individuals who should not have access to such information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper data handling mechanisms within the ZKteco platform, which typically serves as a biometric access control and time attendance management solution. These devices are commonly deployed in enterprise environments, government facilities, and security-sensitive locations where unauthorized access to personnel data, access logs, and system configurations could pose significant security risks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit weaknesses in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of ZKteco systems. When properly exploited, the flaw enables unauthorized parties to extract sensitive information including but not limited to employee biometric data, access logs, user credentials, and system configuration details. The exposure occurs due to insufficient input validation and inadequate privilege enforcement within the device firmware or management interfaces. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including network-based reconnaissance, man-in-the-middle attacks, or by exploiting weak default credentials that are not properly secured. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core security functions of access control systems, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating cascading security risks for organizations relying on ZKteco systems for physical and digital security. When sensitive biometric information is exposed, it can lead to identity theft, unauthorized access to secure facilities, and potential compromise of broader network infrastructures. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for affected organizations. Security teams may face challenges in detecting this type of information exposure, as it often occurs silently without generating obvious alerts or error messages. The compromised data can be used for lateral movement within networks, credential reuse attacks, and other advanced persistent threat operations that align with tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate ZKteco devices from critical network segments, enforcement of strong authentication mechanisms, and regular security assessments of access control systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability scans, update device firmware to patched versions when available, and implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, regular security audits of biometric systems, and comprehensive incident response procedures specifically tailored to address information exposure vulnerabilities. The threat landscape for such vulnerabilities is increasingly sophisticated, with threat actors actively seeking weaknesses in access control systems that could provide them with persistent access to sensitive environments.