CVE-2024-47078 in Firmware
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2024
Meshtastic is an open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network. Meshtastic uses MQTT to communicate over an internet connection to a shared or private MQTT Server. Nodes can communicate directly via an internet connection or proxied through a connected phone (i.e., via bluetooth). Prior to version 2.5.1, multiple weaknesses in the MQTT implementation allow for authentication and authorization bypasses resulting in unauthorized control of MQTT-connected nodes. Version 2.5.1 contains a patch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The Meshtastic mesh network implementation presents a critical security vulnerability in its MQTT communication protocol handling that affects versions prior to 2.5.1. This open source decentralized network system relies on MQTT as its primary communication mechanism between nodes and central servers, creating a fundamental attack surface that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to connected devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication and authorization controls within the MQTT implementation, allowing malicious actors to bypass legitimate access controls and assume control over MQTT-connected nodes. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it enables complete control over network operations and potentially exposes sensitive data transmitted through the mesh network infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the MQTT protocol implementation where authentication mechanisms fail to properly validate user credentials and authorization levels before granting access to network resources. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit weak session management and insufficient access control checks that should normally prevent unauthorized users from executing administrative commands or modifying node configurations. The flaw particularly affects scenarios where nodes communicate directly over internet connections or through mobile proxies, creating multiple potential attack vectors. The lack of proper authentication validation means that an attacker could potentially establish unauthorized MQTT connections and issue commands that would normally require legitimate administrative credentials, effectively enabling remote code execution and complete network compromise.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to the security and integrity of Meshtastic mesh networks, particularly in environments where these networks are used for critical communications or sensitive data transmission. The unauthorized control of MQTT-connected nodes could result in data interception, network disruption, or even physical security compromise if the mesh network is integrated with IoT devices or security systems. Attackers could potentially reconfigure network parameters, disable security features, or redirect communications to malicious endpoints. The decentralized nature of mesh networks means that a single compromised node could potentially serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in large-scale deployments where multiple nodes are interconnected.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate deployment of version 2.5.1 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the authentication and authorization bypasses. Organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect unauthorized MQTT connections and anomalous network behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate MQTT traffic, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and regularly auditing MQTT server configurations to ensure proper access controls are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK perspective under the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics, as attackers could leverage this to maintain persistent access and avoid detection while controlling network operations.