CVE-2017-20238 Overview
CVE-2017-20238 is an improper authorization vulnerability affecting Hirschmann Industrial HiVision network management software. The vulnerability allows read-only users to bypass access control mechanisms and gain write access to managed devices. Attackers with restricted permissions can exploit alternative interfaces such as the web interface or SNMP browser to modify device configurations, potentially compromising industrial network infrastructure.
Critical Impact
Read-only users can escalate privileges to gain unauthorized write access to managed industrial devices, enabling configuration tampering and potential disruption of critical infrastructure.
Affected Products
- Hirschmann Industrial HiVision version 06.0.00 (prior to 06.0.06)
- Hirschmann Industrial HiVision version 07.0.00 (prior to 07.0.01)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-03 - CVE CVE-2017-20238 published to NVD
- 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2017-20238
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from improper authorization controls (CWE-285) within the Hirschmann Industrial HiVision network management platform. The core issue lies in inconsistent access control enforcement across different interfaces exposed by the application. While the primary management interface may correctly enforce read-only permissions for restricted user accounts, alternative access paths such as the web interface and SNMP browser fail to properly validate user authorization levels before allowing write operations.
The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that any authenticated user with network access to the HiVision management system can potentially exploit this flaw. The attack requires low privilege authentication but no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple operators have varying levels of access permissions.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2017-20238 is improper authorization (CWE-285) in the access control implementation. The HiVision software fails to consistently enforce role-based access controls across all available interfaces. When a user authenticates with read-only credentials, the authorization check is not uniformly applied to all entry points that can modify device configurations. This architectural flaw allows attackers to circumvent intended restrictions by accessing the same functionality through alternative, less-protected interfaces.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based and requires low-privileged authentication. An attacker with valid read-only credentials can exploit this vulnerability by:
- Authenticating to the HiVision system with read-only user credentials
- Identifying alternative interfaces that expose device management capabilities
- Accessing the web interface or SNMP browser functionality
- Issuing write commands to modify device configurations despite having restricted permissions
The vulnerability allows unauthorized modification of managed device configurations, which in an industrial environment could lead to network disruption, safety system manipulation, or creation of backdoor access to critical infrastructure.
Detection Methods for CVE-2017-20238
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthorized configuration changes to managed industrial devices from accounts with read-only permissions
- Unexpected SNMP write operations originating from users designated as read-only
- Web interface access logs showing configuration modifications by restricted user accounts
- Audit trail discrepancies between user permission levels and recorded actions
Detection Strategies
- Monitor HiVision access logs for configuration changes made by read-only user accounts
- Implement network monitoring to detect SNMP SET operations from accounts that should only have read access
- Configure alerts for any device configuration changes and correlate with user permission levels
- Review web server logs for POST requests to configuration endpoints from restricted users
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable comprehensive audit logging within the HiVision management platform
- Deploy network traffic analysis to monitor SNMP traffic for unauthorized write operations
- Implement real-time alerting on configuration changes to critical industrial devices
- Regularly audit user account permissions and compare against access logs for anomalies
How to Mitigate CVE-2017-20238
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Hirschmann Industrial HiVision version 06.x to version 06.0.06 or later
- Upgrade Hirschmann Industrial HiVision version 07.x to version 07.0.01 or later
- Audit all user accounts with read-only permissions for any unauthorized configuration changes
- Review and restrict network access to the HiVision management interfaces
Patch Information
Belden has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Users of HiVision version 06.0.00 should upgrade to version 06.0.06 or later, while users of version 07.0.00 should upgrade to version 07.0.01 or later. Detailed patch information is available in the Belden Security Bulletin.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to the HiVision management platform using network segmentation and firewall rules
- Disable or restrict access to alternative interfaces such as SNMP browsers until patches can be applied
- Implement additional network-level authentication for accessing management interfaces
- Monitor all user activity within the HiVision platform with enhanced logging until the system is patched
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
