CVE-2024-5952 in DSE855
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
Deep Sea Electronics DSE855 Restart Missing Authentication Denial-of-Service Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to bypass authentication on affected installations of Deep Sea Electronics DSE855 devices. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the web-based UI. The issue results from the lack of authentication prior to allowing access to functionality. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to create a denial-of-service condition on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-23174.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The CVE-2024-5952 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in Deep Sea Electronics DSE855 network devices that exposes organizations to significant operational risks. This vulnerability specifically affects the web-based user interface of the DSE855 device, where the absence of proper authentication checks creates an exploitable pathway for malicious actors. The vulnerability is classified as a denial-of-service condition that can be triggered without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system functions. The flaw exists within the device's web interface implementation where authentication mechanisms are either missing or improperly enforced, creating a direct attack vector for network-adjacent threat actors.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a failure in the device's authentication framework where the web-based management interface does not adequately verify user credentials before granting access to administrative functions. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform restart operations and potentially other system-level functions without proper authorization, effectively compromising the device's operational integrity. This authentication bypass enables attackers to disrupt services by triggering system restarts or other disruptive operations that can lead to complete service outages. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and the attack surface maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1499 for network denial of service. The device's failure to implement proper session management and access controls creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the underlying authentication mechanisms are properly implemented.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5952 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential data integrity compromise and system availability degradation. Network-adjacent attackers can exploit this vulnerability to repeatedly trigger denial-of-service conditions, causing cascading effects throughout the network infrastructure that relies on these devices for operations. Organizations utilizing DSE855 devices face the risk of unauthorized system modifications, including potential configuration changes that could compromise network security posture. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require specialized tools or deep technical knowledge, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors from script kiddies to sophisticated adversaries. The lack of authentication requirements means that attackers can repeatedly attempt exploitation without risk of account lockout or detection, potentially leading to prolonged service disruption and operational downtime. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems and network infrastructure where device availability is critical for maintaining operational continuity and safety protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5952 should focus on immediate network segmentation and access control implementation to limit the attack surface available to adjacent network threats. Organizations should implement network access controls using firewalls and access control lists to restrict access to these devices to only authorized network segments and IP addresses. The most effective immediate solution involves applying vendor-provided security patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available, as these would address the underlying authentication bypass mechanism. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and system restart events that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms where possible, though the primary fix must address the core authentication bypass issue. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure should include verification of authentication mechanisms across all networked devices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining undetected. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing robust authentication frameworks in network management interfaces and demonstrates the necessity of continuous security testing and vulnerability management processes.