CVE-2017-7931 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-7931 was published on June 5, 2018, by ICS-CERT. The vulnerability affects ABB IP GATEWAY versions prior to 3.39, allowing unauthorized access to configuration files and application pages.

Understanding CVE-2017-7931

In ABB IP GATEWAY 3.39 and earlier versions, a malicious user could exploit a specific URL on the web server to access sensitive data without authentication.

What is CVE-2017-7931?

This CVE refers to an improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287) in ABB IP GATEWAY versions before 3.39, enabling unauthorized users to retrieve confidential information.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7931

The vulnerability permits malicious actors to gain access to configuration files and application pages without the need for authentication, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7931

The following technical aspects are associated with CVE-2017-7931:

Vulnerability Description

Prior to version 3.39 of ABB IP GATEWAY, unauthorized users could access configuration files and application pages without authentication by exploiting a specific URL.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: ABB IP GATEWAY
Vendor: ICS-CERT
Affected Versions: All versions prior to 3.39

Exploitation Mechanism

By accessing a specific URL on the web server, malicious users could bypass authentication measures and retrieve sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-7931, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ABB IP GATEWAY to version 3.39 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to restrict unauthorized access to critical systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit web server access logs for suspicious activities.
Conduct security training for personnel to enhance awareness of authentication best practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from ICS-CERT and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities.