CVE-2019-25278: FaceSentry Cleartext Transmission Flaw

CVE-2019-25278 Overview

CVE-2019-25278 is a critical cleartext transmission vulnerability affecting FaceSentry Access Control System version 6.4.8. This security flaw allows remote attackers to intercept authentication credentials by performing man-in-the-middle attacks during network communication. The vulnerability stems from the system's failure to encrypt HTTP cookie authentication information, exposing sensitive data to network-level interception.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can intercept authentication credentials via man-in-the-middle attacks, potentially gaining unauthorized access to physical security systems and compromising building access control infrastructure.

Affected Products

• FaceSentry Access Control System 6.4.8

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-08 - CVE-2019-25278 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25278

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information). The FaceSentry Access Control System transmits authentication cookies over unencrypted HTTP connections, enabling network-positioned attackers to capture sensitive authentication data.

The lack of transport layer encryption in the authentication mechanism means that any attacker with network access between the client and the FaceSentry server can passively capture or actively intercept authentication traffic. In physical access control environments, this could allow an attacker to hijack legitimate user sessions and gain unauthorized control over door locks, access schedules, and security policies.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's failure to implement secure transport mechanisms for authentication data. The FaceSentry Access Control System version 6.4.8 transmits HTTP cookie authentication information in cleartext, without TLS/SSL encryption. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles for protecting credentials in transit and leaves authentication sessions vulnerable to interception on any network segment between the client and server.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires the attacker to be positioned to intercept traffic between the victim's browser and the FaceSentry server. This can be achieved through various means including ARP spoofing on local networks, compromised network infrastructure, or rogue access points.

An attacker would perform the following attack sequence: First, position themselves to intercept network traffic through techniques such as ARP poisoning or DNS spoofing. Then, passively monitor HTTP traffic for authentication cookies being transmitted to the FaceSentry system. Once captured, the attacker can replay these authentication cookies to hijack the victim's session and gain full access to the access control system's administrative functions.

For technical details and proof-of-concept information, refer to the Zero Science Vulnerability ZSL-2019-5528 and Packet Storm Security Exploit #153498.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25278

Indicators of Compromise

• Unencrypted HTTP traffic to FaceSentry servers on port 80 containing authentication cookies
• ARP spoofing activity on network segments where FaceSentry clients communicate
• Unusual session activity or unauthorized administrative actions in FaceSentry audit logs
• Multiple concurrent sessions from different IP addresses using the same authentication tokens

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for cleartext HTTP communications to FaceSentry devices and flag any authentication-related requests not using HTTPS
• Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to identify ARP spoofing or man-in-the-middle attack patterns on segments with access control systems
• Implement session monitoring to detect authentication cookie reuse from unexpected IP addresses or geographic locations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on FaceSentry systems to capture all authentication events and administrative actions
• Deploy network traffic analysis tools to identify unencrypted credential transmissions across the infrastructure
• Configure alerts for abnormal login patterns such as simultaneous sessions or access from unusual network locations

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25278

Immediate Actions Required

• Isolate FaceSentry systems on a dedicated, secured network segment with strict access controls
• Deploy a reverse proxy with TLS termination in front of FaceSentry servers to encrypt all client communications
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of access control traffic to potential attackers
• Review and audit all FaceSentry user sessions and access logs for signs of compromise

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the NVD database. Organizations should contact the FaceSentry vendor directly for firmware updates or security patches that address this cleartext transmission vulnerability. For additional technical details, consult the IBM X-Force Vulnerability #163192.

Workarounds

• Deploy the FaceSentry system behind a TLS-terminating reverse proxy such as nginx or HAProxy to encrypt all client-to-server communications
• Implement VPN requirements for all remote administrative access to FaceSentry systems
• Configure network-level encryption (IPsec) between client workstations and the FaceSentry server
• Restrict FaceSentry web interface access to trusted management networks only

# Example nginx reverse proxy configuration for TLS termination
server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name facesentry.internal.example.com;
    
    ssl_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/facesentry.crt;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/private/facesentry.key;
    ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
    ssl_ciphers HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5;
    
    location / {
        proxy_pass http://facesentry-internal:80;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto https;
    }
}