CVE-2026-73164 in EKI-1242IEIMS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2026
Nozomi Networks Labs identified a CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in the web management interface of Advantech EKI-1242IEIMS in firmware version V1.06.01 that allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary OS commands as root via crafted request parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2026
The discovery by Nozomi Networks Labs highlights a critical security flaw within the Advantech EKI-1242IEIMS industrial Ethernet switch, specifically affecting firmware version V1.06.01 and potentially earlier versions depending on deployment configurations. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78, which denotes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, commonly known as OS command injection. The flaw resides within the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and monitor network devices. In industrial control systems and critical infrastructure environments, such interfaces are often targeted by attackers seeking initial access or lateral movement opportunities due to their direct link to device configuration capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a failure in input validation and sanitization processes within the web application backend. When an authenticated user submits crafted request parameters intended for administrative functions, the system fails to adequately strip or escape special characters that hold significance to the operating system shell. Consequently, these malicious inputs are concatenated directly into OS commands without proper filtering. This allows an attacker who has valid credentials for the management interface to inject arbitrary command strings that execute with root privileges on the underlying device operating system. The authentication requirement means this is not a fully unauthenticated remote code execution flaw, but it significantly lowers the barrier for exploitation since many industrial devices still rely on weak or default administrative passwords, or where credential theft has already occurred through other vectors such as phishing or network sniffing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the elevated privilege level granted by successful exploitation. An attacker gaining root access can fully compromise the integrity and availability of the managed switch. This includes the ability to modify routing tables, disable security features like ACLs or port security, install persistent backdoors, or disrupt network connectivity essential for industrial operations. In an OT environment, such disruption could lead to production halts, safety incidents, or provide a foothold for further attacks against connected PLCs and SCADA systems. The ability to execute commands as root also facilitates data exfiltration if the device has access to sensitive configuration files or logs containing operational parameters.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the Advantech EKI-1242IEIMS firmware to a version where this CWE-78 flaw is resolved, following vendor advisories closely for release timelines and specific fix details. In cases where patching is not immediately feasible due to legacy system constraints or validation periods, network segmentation should be enforced to restrict access to the management interface only from trusted administrative subnets using strict firewall rules. Additionally, enforcing strong password policies and multi-factor authentication for all device accounts reduces the likelihood of credential compromise that precedes this exploitation step. Security monitoring tools should also be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns associated with command injection attempts or unusual outbound connections originating from managed devices.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to Command and Scripting Interpreter abuse, specifically the execution of operating system commands via remote services. Adversaries often leverage such flaws in network infrastructure components as part of broader campaigns targeting industrial environments. Understanding that CWE-78 remains one of the most prevalent web application vulnerabilities underscores the need for rigorous secure coding practices during firmware development, including parameterized command invocation and strict input validation frameworks to prevent special character injection.