CVE-2024-55027: Weintek Easyweb Information Disclosure

CVE-2024-55027 Overview

CVE-2024-55027 is a sensitive data exposure vulnerability affecting Weintek cMT-3072XH2 industrial HMI (Human-Machine Interface) devices running easyweb v2.1.53 with OS v20231011. The vulnerability stems from insecure credential storage practices where user credentials are stored in plaintext within the uac_temp.db database component. This Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (CWE-312) weakness allows attackers with network access to potentially retrieve authentication credentials, compromising the security of industrial control systems.

Critical Impact

Network-accessible plaintext credential storage in industrial HMI devices enables unauthorized access to critical operational technology infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Weintek easyweb v2.1.53
• Weintek cMT-3072XH2 Firmware v20231011
• Weintek cMT-3072XH2 Hardware

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-03 - CVE-2024-55027 published to NVD
• 2026-03-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-55027

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a fundamental security flaw in credential management within the Weintek cMT-3072XH2 HMI system. The easyweb interface stores user authentication credentials without any form of encryption or hashing in the uac_temp.db database file. This plaintext storage approach violates security best practices for sensitive data handling and creates significant risks in industrial environments where these HMI devices are deployed.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), indicating multiple credential handling weaknesses. An attacker who gains access to the device—either through the network or via physical access to the storage—can directly read user credentials without needing to perform any cryptographic attacks or brute-force operations.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper security design in the credential storage mechanism. The Weintek easyweb application fails to implement industry-standard cryptographic protections for stored credentials. Rather than using secure hashing algorithms (such as bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2) combined with proper salting, the application writes credentials directly to the uac_temp.db database in readable plaintext format. This design oversight leaves credential data unprotected and immediately accessible to anyone who can read the database file.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability can be exploited via network access without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker with network connectivity to the Weintek cMT-3072XH2 device can potentially access the uac_temp.db file through various means:

1. Direct file access: If the device exposes file system access through web services, FTP, or other protocols, attackers can download the database file directly
2. Backup extraction: Credential databases may be included in device backups or configuration exports that can be accessed
3. Memory or storage analysis: Physical access to the device allows extraction of the storage media containing the plaintext credentials

Once credentials are obtained, attackers can authenticate to the HMI system with legitimate user privileges, potentially gaining control over connected industrial processes and operational technology systems. Technical details and proof-of-concept information are available through the GitHub Gist PoC and Notion Document Overview.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-55027

Indicators of Compromise

• Unauthorized access attempts or successful logins to Weintek cMT-3072XH2 devices from unexpected IP addresses
• Unusual file access patterns targeting uac_temp.db or related configuration files
• Multiple authentication attempts using different user accounts in short succession
• Network traffic anomalies suggesting credential harvesting or lateral movement from HMI devices

Detection Strategies

• Implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to Weintek HMI device ports and services
• Deploy file integrity monitoring (FIM) on the uac_temp.db database to detect unauthorized reads or modifications
• Configure SIEM rules to alert on authentication events from Weintek devices, especially from non-standard administrative locations
• Monitor for mass credential usage patterns that may indicate stolen plaintext credentials being tested

Monitoring Recommendations

• Segment Weintek HMI devices on isolated OT/ICS network zones with strict ingress/egress controls
• Enable comprehensive logging on network devices monitoring traffic to and from affected Weintek systems
• Establish baseline behavioral profiles for normal HMI device access patterns and alert on deviations
• Conduct periodic reviews of the uac_temp.db file permissions and access logs

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-55027

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all Weintek cMT-3072XH2 devices running easyweb v2.1.53 and OS v20231011 in your environment
• Immediately restrict network access to affected devices using firewall rules and network segmentation
• Change all user credentials stored on affected devices and ensure new credentials are unique
• Implement additional authentication layers or VPN requirements for accessing HMI systems
• Review access logs to determine if credentials may have already been compromised

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Organizations should monitor Weintek's official channels for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability. Contact Weintek support directly for remediation guidance and timeline information regarding security patches for the cMT-3072XH2 platform.

Workarounds

• Isolate affected Weintek devices on dedicated network segments with strict access control lists
• Implement network-level authentication (802.1X) to restrict device access to authorized systems only
• Deploy a jump server or bastion host as the sole access point for managing vulnerable HMI devices
• Enable VPN requirements for any remote access to networks containing affected devices
• Consider deploying additional security monitoring solutions to detect credential theft attempts

# Network segmentation example - restrict access to Weintek HMI devices
# Add firewall rules to limit access to trusted management IPs only

# Example iptables rules for Linux-based firewall
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.100.0/24 -s 10.0.0.50 -j ACCEPT  # Allow from management host
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.100.0/24 -j DROP                  # Block all other access

# Document all Weintek HMI IP addresses for monitoring
# Replace 192.168.100.0/24 with your actual HMI network segment