CVE-2024-41161: Vonets VAR1200-H Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-41161 Overview

CVE-2024-41161 is a use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability (CWE-798) affecting Vonets industrial WiFi bridge relays and WiFi bridge repeaters running firmware versions 3.3.23.6.9 and prior. This vulnerability enables an unauthenticated remote attacker to bypass authentication using hard-coded administrator credentials embedded in the device firmware. Critically, these default accounts cannot be disabled by administrators, leaving devices permanently vulnerable until firmware is updated.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can gain full administrative access to affected Vonets industrial WiFi bridge devices without authentication, potentially compromising network infrastructure in industrial and enterprise environments.

Affected Products

• Vonets VAR1200-H / VAR1200-L WiFi Bridge (firmware versions ≤ 3.3.23.6.9)
• Vonets VAR600-H / VAR11N-300 WiFi Bridge (firmware versions ≤ 3.3.23.6.9)
• Vonets VAP11AC / VAP11S-5G / VAP11S WiFi Repeater (firmware versions ≤ 3.3.23.6.9)
• Vonets VAP11G / VAP11G-300 / VAP11G-500 / VAP11G-500S WiFi Repeater (firmware versions ≤ 3.3.23.6.9)
• Vonets VAP11N-300 WiFi Repeater (firmware versions ≤ 3.3.23.6.9)
• Vonets VBG1200 / VGA-1000 WiFi Bridge Gateway (firmware versions ≤ 3.3.23.6.9)

Discovery Timeline

• August 8, 2024 - CVE-2024-41161 published to NVD
• August 20, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-41161

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists due to the presence of hard-coded administrative credentials within the firmware of multiple Vonets industrial WiFi bridge and repeater products. The embedded credentials provide full administrative access to the device's management interface, allowing remote attackers to authenticate without knowing legitimate user credentials.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because the hard-coded accounts cannot be disabled through the device's administrative interface. This design flaw means that even security-conscious administrators who implement strong password policies for user-created accounts remain vulnerable to attacks leveraging the embedded credentials.

Industrial WiFi bridges and repeaters are commonly deployed in operational technology (OT) environments, manufacturing facilities, and critical infrastructure settings. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to reconfigure network settings, intercept traffic, pivot to connected systems, or disrupt industrial processes.

Root Cause

The root cause is the use of hard-coded credentials (CWE-798) in the device firmware. The manufacturer embedded static administrator credentials during development, likely for debugging, manufacturing testing, or support purposes, without implementing a mechanism to disable or change these accounts in production deployments. This represents a fundamental secure development lifecycle failure where credentials intended for internal use were shipped in production firmware.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker with network access to the device's management interface can authenticate using the hard-coded credentials. The attack flow involves:

1. Identifying a vulnerable Vonets device on the network through fingerprinting or banner grabbing
2. Accessing the device's web-based management interface
3. Authenticating with the hard-coded administrator credentials
4. Gaining full administrative control over the device configuration

Since the vulnerability affects the administrative interface, attackers can modify wireless configurations, change routing settings, access sensitive network information, or use the compromised device as a foothold for further network penetration.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-41161

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected administrative login attempts or successful authentications to Vonets device management interfaces from unknown IP addresses
• Configuration changes to Vonets WiFi bridge or repeater devices that were not authorized by network administrators
• New or modified wireless network profiles, routing configurations, or access policies on affected devices
• Unusual network traffic patterns originating from or passing through Vonets devices

Detection Strategies

• Monitor authentication logs on Vonets devices for login attempts using default or known hard-coded usernames
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to alert on access to Vonets management interfaces from untrusted network segments
• Deploy honeypot instances mimicking Vonets devices to detect reconnaissance and exploitation attempts
• Use asset inventory tools to identify all Vonets devices on the network and track their firmware versions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Segment Vonets industrial WiFi devices from general network traffic and restrict management interface access to authorized administrative workstations
• Enable logging on all Vonets devices and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation and analysis
• Conduct periodic configuration audits to detect unauthorized changes to device settings
• Monitor for CISA ICS-CERT advisories and Vonets security bulletins for updated threat intelligence

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-41161

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all Vonets WiFi bridge and repeater devices in your environment running firmware version 3.3.23.6.9 or earlier
• Isolate affected devices by restricting network access to management interfaces using firewall rules or VLANs
• Contact Vonets support to determine patch availability and upgrade procedures for your specific device models
• Monitor affected devices for signs of compromise while awaiting firmware updates

Patch Information

Organizations should consult the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-24-214-08 for official remediation guidance. Contact Vonets directly to obtain firmware updates that address this vulnerability. Ensure that any firmware updates are obtained from official Vonets sources to avoid supply chain compromise.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to prevent unauthorized access to Vonets device management interfaces from untrusted networks
• Deploy firewall rules to block external access to Vonets administrative ports and restrict access to authorized management workstations only
• Consider temporarily taking vulnerable devices offline if they are exposed to untrusted networks and firmware updates are not immediately available
• Enable enhanced logging and monitoring on network perimeters to detect exploitation attempts targeting Vonets devices

# Example: Restrict access to Vonets management interface using iptables
# Replace VONETS_IP with the IP address of your Vonets device
# Replace ADMIN_SUBNET with your authorized management subnet

iptables -A INPUT -d VONETS_IP -p tcp --dport 80 -s ADMIN_SUBNET -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -d VONETS_IP -p tcp --dport 443 -s ADMIN_SUBNET -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -d VONETS_IP -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -d VONETS_IP -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP