CVE-2025-24342 in ctrlX OS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/30/2025
A vulnerability in the login functionality of the web application of ctrlX OS allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to guess valid usernames via multiple crafted HTTP requests.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
This vulnerability resides within the authentication mechanism of ctrlX OS, a industrial operating system designed for edge computing environments. The flaw manifests in the login functionality where the application fails to properly implement rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms for failed authentication attempts. An attacker can exploit this weakness by sending multiple crafted HTTP requests to the login endpoint, systematically testing various username combinations to identify valid accounts within the system. The vulnerability stems from the application's inability to differentiate between valid and invalid username attempts during the authentication process, providing attackers with clear feedback through response time variations or distinct error messages that reveal which usernames exist in the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic timing attack vector combined with information disclosure through inconsistent error responses. When a valid username is submitted, the application typically processes the request for a longer duration compared to invalid username attempts, as it must perform additional lookups or verification steps. This timing difference creates a measurable pattern that attackers can exploit through automated tools to conduct systematic username enumeration attacks. Additionally, the application may return different error messages or HTTP status codes that provide further clues about the validity of submitted usernames, effectively serving as a side-channel information leak that undermines the security of the authentication process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, particularly in industrial environments where ctrlX OS is deployed for critical infrastructure management. An attacker who successfully enumerates valid usernames can proceed to conduct targeted password spraying or brute force attacks against the discovered accounts, potentially gaining unauthorized access to industrial control systems. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege and authentication security by allowing attackers to map the user base of the system without requiring any prior credentials or authentication. This reconnaissance phase significantly reduces the time and effort required for subsequent exploitation attempts and can lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities in the industrial network ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust account lockout mechanisms, rate limiting for authentication attempts, and consistent error handling that does not provide information about account validity. The application should enforce a uniform response time for all authentication attempts regardless of whether the username exists in the system, eliminating timing-based information disclosure. Implementing multi-factor authentication and account lockout policies after a predetermined number of failed attempts would significantly reduce the effectiveness of username enumeration attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual patterns of authentication requests and deploy network segmentation to limit the scope of potential exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-305 authentication weaknesses and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and reconnaissance phases, specifically targeting the credential dumping and account discovery tactics used by threat actors in industrial environments.