CVE-2022-30271 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The Motorola ACE1000 RTU has a critical vulnerability with a hardcoded SSH private key, potentially leading to security risks if not mitigated.

Understanding CVE-2022-30271

This CVE identifies a serious issue in the Motorola ACE1000 RTU that could compromise the security of systems utilizing the device.

What is CVE-2022-30271?

The Motorola ACE1000 RTU up to 2022-05-02 includes a hardcoded SSH private key. The initialization scripts do not generate a new key if a private-key file already exists, making the hardcoded key the default choice.

The Impact of CVE-2022-30271

The presence of a hardcoded SSH private key in the Motorola ACE1000 RTU can potentially allow unauthorized access to the device, leading to unauthorized control and manipulation of critical operations.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-30271

This section covers specific technical details related to the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Motorola ACE1000 RTU arises from the hardcoded SSH private key and the lack of key regeneration in the initialization scripts. This increases the risk of unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of Motorola ACE1000 RTU up to 2022-05-02 are affected by this vulnerability due to the hardcoded SSH private key implementation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with knowledge of the hardcoded SSH private key can potentially gain unauthorized access to the affected systems, posing a significant security threat.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-30271, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to update the initialization scripts to ensure the generation of a unique SSH private key for enhanced security. Review and rotate existing keys as a precaution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement a thorough security review process for all device configurations to eliminate hardcoded keys and ensure regular audits for vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by Motorola for the ACE1000 RTU to address this vulnerability effectively.