Belden Hirschmann GECKO

CVSS v3 5.9

**ATTENTION:**Remotely Exploitable/high skill level to exploit.

Vendor: Belden

Equipment: Hirschmann GECKO

Vulnerability: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following GECKO switch versions are affected:

• Hirschmann GECKO Lite Managed switch, Version 2.0.00 and prior versions.

IMPACT

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to access a copy of the configuration file of an affected device without authenticating, exposing sensitive information.

MITIGATION

Belden has released a new software version, Version 02.0.01, to address the identified vulnerability, which is available at the following location:

<https://www.e-catalog.beldensolutions.com/link/57078-24455-402707-402708/en/conf/0&gt;

Belden recommends that users update to the newest software version. As an interim compensating control, Belden specifies that users can reboot affected devices after each configuration download, preventing the vulnerable state.

For additional information, please review Belden’s security bulletin, BSECV-2016-5, which is available at the following location:

<https://www.belden.com/resourcecenter/security/upload/Belden-Security-Bulletin-BSECV-2016-5.pdf&gt;

NCCIC/ICS-CERT recommends that users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. Specifically, users should:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, and ensure that they are not accessible from the Internet.
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls, and isolate them from the business network.
• When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing that VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize that VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.

ICS-CERT reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

ICS-CERT also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS-CERT web page. Several recommended practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available in the ICS‑CERT Technical Information Paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies, that is available for download from the ICS-CERT web site.

Organizations observing any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to ICS-CERT for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability. This vulnerability is remotely exploitable. High skill level is needed to exploit.

VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

PATH TRAVERSAL CWE-22

After an administrator downloads a configuration file, a copy of the configuration file, which includes hashes of user passwords, is saved to a location that is accessible without authentication.

CVE-2017-5163 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 5.9 has been assigned; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

RESEARCHER

Davy Douhine of RandoriSec identified this vulnerability.

BACKGROUND

Critical Infrastructure Sector(s): Multiple sectors

Countries Deployed: Worldwide

Company Headquarters Location: St. Louis, Missouri.