CVE-2024-7408 in Air Quality Monitor PM2.5 PM10
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2024
This vulnerability exists in Airveda Air Quality Monitor PM2.5 PM10 due to transmission of sensitive information in plain text during AP pairing mode. An attacker in close proximity could exploit this vulnerability by capturing Wi-Fi traffic of Airveda-AP.
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow the attacker to cause Evil Twin attack on the targeted system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The Airveda Air Quality Monitor PM2.5 PM10 device presents a critical security flaw in its wireless communication protocols that fundamentally compromises the integrity of its pairing mechanism. This vulnerability stems from the device's failure to implement proper encryption during the access point pairing process, creating an exploitable weakness in the network authentication framework. The device's design allows sensitive information to be transmitted in plaintext format, making it susceptible to interception by adversaries within physical proximity of the target system. This weakness directly violates established security principles for wireless device communication and represents a significant deviation from industry best practices for protecting authentication credentials during network establishment phases.
The technical flaw manifests specifically during the AP pairing mode when the device communicates sensitive data without encryption, including but not limited to authentication tokens, network credentials, and potentially device identifiers. This plaintext transmission creates a vector for man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker can capture and analyze the unencrypted wireless traffic flowing between the monitoring device and the connecting client. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the initial pairing process when the device is most vulnerable to unauthorized access attempts. According to CWE-312, this represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper data protection during transmission, as the system fails to implement adequate cryptographic measures for sensitive information exchange.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to enable sophisticated attack vectors including Evil Twin attacks that can completely compromise the device's security posture. An attacker capable of capturing the plaintext traffic can reconstruct the network authentication parameters and subsequently establish a malicious access point that mimics the legitimate device. This allows for complete network infiltration and potential data exfiltration from the compromised monitoring system. The attack surface is further expanded as the device may be used to monitor sensitive environmental conditions in controlled environments such as hospitals, laboratories, or industrial facilities where unauthorized access could have serious operational consequences. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a foothold that can be leveraged for broader network reconnaissance and lateral movement within the affected environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure and implement comprehensive security controls to prevent future occurrences. Device manufacturers should implement mandatory encryption protocols for all wireless communication during pairing processes, ensuring that all sensitive information is protected using industry-standard cryptographic methods such as WPA2-PSK or higher. Network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous wireless traffic patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and T1133 which covers external remote services, highlighting the need for comprehensive network security controls to prevent unauthorized access and maintain device integrity. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in the device's communication protocols and ensure proper encryption implementation across all network interfaces.