CVE-2024-55023: Weintek cMT Hardcoded Key Vulnerability

CVE-2024-55023 Overview

CVE-2024-55023 is a hardcoded credentials vulnerability affecting Weintek cMT-3072XH2 HMI (Human-Machine Interface) devices running easyweb v2.1.53 with OS v20231011. The vulnerability stems from a hardcoded encryption key embedded within the device firmware, which could allow attackers to access sensitive information by decrypting protected data or communications.

Critical Impact

Attackers with network access can exploit the hardcoded encryption key to decrypt sensitive configuration data, credentials, or communications from affected Weintek HMI devices, potentially compromising industrial control systems.

Affected Products

• Weintek cMT-3072XH2 easyweb v2.1.53
• Weintek cMT-3072XH2 OS v20231011

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-03 - CVE-2024-55023 published to NVD
• 2026-03-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-55023

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), which represents a significant security weakness in embedded device design. The Weintek cMT-3072XH2 contains a hardcoded encryption key within its firmware that is used to protect sensitive data. Since this key is static and embedded in the device firmware, any attacker who obtains it can decrypt protected information from any affected device.

HMI devices like the cMT-3072XH2 are commonly deployed in industrial environments to interface with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other operational technology (OT) systems. The exposure of sensitive information through this vulnerability could have significant implications for industrial control system security.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the device—remote exploitation is possible if the HMI is reachable over the network. No privileges or user interaction are required to exploit this weakness.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the use of a hardcoded encryption key in the Weintek cMT-3072XH2 firmware. Rather than implementing unique per-device keys or dynamic key generation, the developers embedded a static encryption key that remains constant across all devices running the affected firmware versions. This is a common but dangerous shortcut in embedded system development that violates cryptographic best practices.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-55023 is network-based with low attack complexity. An attacker who can access the affected HMI device over the network can extract the hardcoded encryption key from the firmware through reverse engineering or by referencing publicly available security research. Once obtained, this key can be used to:

1. Decrypt captured network traffic between the HMI and connected systems
2. Access encrypted configuration files containing credentials or system settings
3. Potentially decrypt stored sensitive information on the device

Since all devices using the same firmware share the identical encryption key, compromise of the key affects the entire population of vulnerable devices. Technical details regarding the specific key extraction and exploitation methodology can be found in the referenced GitHub Security Gist and Notion Resource Overview.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-55023

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual network connections to Weintek HMI devices from unauthorized IP addresses
• Attempts to access or download firmware images from cMT-3072XH2 devices
• Anomalous decryption or configuration access patterns on HMI devices
• Unexpected configuration changes on affected Weintek devices

Detection Strategies

• Implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to Weintek cMT-3072XH2 devices on their management ports
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify firmware extraction or reverse engineering activities targeting HMI devices
• Monitor for unusual data exfiltration patterns from the OT network segments where these devices are deployed

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline network behavior for all Weintek HMI devices and alert on deviations
• Enable logging on network segmentation devices to track all communications with affected HMI devices
• Implement file integrity monitoring on any systems that store backups of HMI configurations

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-55023

Immediate Actions Required

• Isolate affected Weintek cMT-3072XH2 devices from untrusted networks using proper network segmentation
• Implement strict firewall rules limiting which systems can communicate with the HMI devices
• Review and rotate any credentials that may have been stored or transmitted using the compromised encryption key
• Monitor Weintek's official channels for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor patch has been publicly announced for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor Weintek's official security advisories and support channels for firmware updates that address CVE-2024-55023. Additional technical information is available in the GitHub Security Gist and Notion Resource Overview.

Workarounds

• Deploy affected HMI devices behind a properly configured industrial demilitarized zone (DMZ) with strict access controls
• Use VPN connections for any remote access to networks containing vulnerable Weintek devices
• Implement additional encryption layers (such as TLS/VPN tunnels) for communications with the HMI devices
• Consider replacing affected devices with models that use secure key management practices if firmware updates are not forthcoming

# Example network segmentation firewall rule (iptables)
# Restrict access to Weintek HMI device (replace IP addresses as appropriate)
iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.0/24 -d 192.168.100.10 -p tcp --dport 8080 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -d 192.168.100.10 -j DROP