CVE-2024-8890 in Q-SMT
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2024
An attacker with access to the network where the CIRCUTOR Q-SMT is located in its firmware version 1.0.4, could obtain legitimate credentials or steal sessions due to the fact that the device only implements the HTTP protocol. This fact prevents a secure communication channel from being established.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8890 affects the CIRCUTOR Q-SMT device running firmware version 1.0.4, presenting a significant security risk through its reliance on unencrypted HTTP protocol for communication. This device, commonly used in industrial environments for power monitoring and management, fails to implement secure communication channels that would normally protect against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. The absence of encryption mechanisms creates an environment where sensitive authentication data and session tokens can be readily intercepted by malicious actors within the same network segment. This flaw directly violates security best practices and industry standards that mandate the use of encrypted communication protocols to protect against credential theft and session hijacking attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the device's complete omission of secure communication protocols such as HTTPS, TLS, or other encrypted channels. When the CIRCUTOR Q-SMT operates using only HTTP, all data transmitted between the device and its users or management systems flows in plaintext, making it trivial for attackers to capture authentication credentials, session identifiers, and other sensitive information passing through the network. This represents a fundamental failure in the device's security architecture and aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper protocol usage. The vulnerability essentially eliminates any cryptographic protection that would normally safeguard communications, leaving the device's administrative interfaces and data transmission completely exposed to network-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential complete system compromise and unauthorized access to industrial control systems. An attacker who gains network access to the device can exploit this weakness to obtain legitimate administrative credentials, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, data manipulation, or complete system takeover. This scenario particularly concerns industrial environments where the Q-SMT device may be part of critical infrastructure, as the stolen credentials could provide access to power monitoring systems that control essential utilities. The vulnerability creates conditions that align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through network-based attacks, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications.
Organizations utilizing CIRCUTOR Q-SMT devices in their infrastructure should immediately implement network segmentation measures to isolate these devices from critical systems and limit the attack surface. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate credential harvesting attempts or session hijacking activities. The most effective mitigation involves upgrading the device firmware to a version that implements secure communication protocols, though this requires careful planning and consideration of operational impacts. Additionally, implementing network access controls, such as firewall rules that restrict access to the device's administrative interfaces, can help reduce the risk. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying plaintext credential transmission and other suspicious activities related to the device's unencrypted communication channels. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure protocol implementation in industrial devices and highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments of networked industrial equipment to prevent similar exposures in operational technology environments.