Vulnerable Moxa devices expose industrial networks to attacks

Latest News on Moxa Devices Vulnerabilities

Moxa Security Advisory: CVE-2024-9138 and CVE-2024-9140

Moxa, a leading provider of industrial networking and communication solutions, has issued a security advisory regarding two critical vulnerabilities affecting their cellular routers, secure routers, and network security appliances1. The vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2024-9138 and CVE-2024-9140, have a CVSS score of 7.2 and 9.8, respectively.

CVE-2024-9138: Hard-coded Credentials

• Impact: This vulnerability involves the use of hard-coded credentials, which could allow an authenticated user to escalate privileges and gain root-level access to the system. Moxa warns that exploitation of hard-coded credentials could lead to system compromise, unauthorized modifications, data exposure, or service disruption1.

CVE-2024-9140: Input Validation Bypass

• Impact: The second vulnerability allows attackers to exploit special characters to bypass input restrictions, potentially leading to unauthorized command execution. Moxa’s advisory states that the affected product permits OS command injection through improperly restricted commands, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code1.

Affected Products

• A wide range of Moxa products are affected by these vulnerabilities, including:
  • EDR-810 Series
  • EDR-8010 Series
  • EDR-G902 Series
  • EDR-G903 Series
  • EDR-G9004 Series
  • EDR-G9010 Series
  • EDF-G1002-BP Series
  • NAT-102 Series
  • OnCell G4302-LTE4 Series
  • TN-4900 Series1

Solutions and Mitigations

• Moxa has released firmware updates to address these vulnerabilities for most of the affected products. However, for the NAT-102 Series, an official patch is not yet available. Moxa recommends users of this product to minimize network exposure and limit SSH access to trusted IP addresses and networks as mitigations1.

Industrial Network Security Risks

The vulnerabilities in Moxa devices highlight the ongoing risks in industrial network security. These risks include:

1. Unauthorized Access: The hard-coded credentials vulnerability (CVE-2024-9138) could allow attackers to gain root-level access, compromising the integrity of industrial systems.
2. Command Execution: The input validation bypass vulnerability (CVE-2024-9140) could lead to unauthorized command execution, potentially disrupting critical infrastructure operations.

Cybersecurity Implications of Moxa Attacks

The implications of these vulnerabilities are significant, particularly in the context of industrial networks where reliability and security are paramount. The potential consequences include:

1. Data Exposure: Unauthorized access could lead to the exposure of sensitive data, which is critical in industrial settings where operational data is often highly sensitive.
2. Service Disruption: The execution of arbitrary code could disrupt critical services, potentially leading to downtime and economic losses.
3. Supply Chain Risks: Given the interconnected nature of industrial networks, a breach in one system could compromise the entire supply chain, affecting multiple organizations and industries.

To mitigate these risks, organizations should:

• Regularly Update Firmware: Ensure that all affected devices are updated with the latest firmware versions.
• Implement Network Security Measures: Use firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other network security measures to monitor and control traffic.
• Monitor Systems: Continuously monitor systems for suspicious activity to detect and respond to potential breaches promptly1.

Related Cybersecurity Threats

The recent breaches and vulnerabilities highlight broader cybersecurity trends, including:

1. Supply Chain Attacks: The targeting of third-party vendors and suppliers is a significant threat, as seen in the CISA breach linked to Ivanti VPN products2.
2. Ransomware Attacks: The evolution of ransomware tactics, such as double extortion, poses a significant risk to organizations, as exemplified by the Blue Yonder attack2.
3. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Groups like Salt Typhoon continue to exploit vulnerabilities in telecom networks for cyber espionage and data exfiltration2.

In summary, the latest news on Moxa devices vulnerabilities underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in industrial networks to prevent unauthorized access and command execution, thereby ensuring the reliability and security of critical infrastructure.