CVE-2023-0525 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record was assigned by Mitsubishi and published on August 3, 2023. It involves a vulnerability related to weak encoding for passwords in multiple Mitsubishi Electric Corporation products.

Understanding CVE-2023-0525

This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-0525, impacts several products within the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, potentially allowing a remote unauthenticated attacker to obtain plaintext passwords through decryption of encrypted data.

What is CVE-2023-0525?

CVE-2023-0525 specifically relates to weak encoding for passwords in various Mitsubishi Electric Corporation products, including the GOT2000 Series GT27, GT25, GT23, GT21 models, GOT SIMPLE Series GS25 and GS21 models, GT Designer3 Version1 (GOT2000), and GT SoftGOT2000. The vulnerability arises from the inadequate encryption mechanism employed, enabling attackers to decrypt passwords obtained from sniffed packets.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0525

With a CVSS base score of 7.5, classified as high severity, this vulnerability could have significant consequences. The confidentiality of sensitive information, especially passwords, is at risk due to the weak encoding mechanism. However, the integrity and availability of systems are not directly impacted.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0525

This section delves deeper into the vulnerability, exploring its description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from weak encoding for passwords in the affected Mitsubishi Electric Corporation products. By sniffing packets containing encrypted passwords and subsequently decrypting them, remote attackers can retrieve plaintext passwords.

Affected Systems and Versions

The products impacted by CVE-2023-0525 include the GOT2000 Series GT27, GT25, GT23, GT21 models, GOT SIMPLE Series GS25 and GS21 models, GT Designer3 Version1 (GOT2000), and GT SoftGOT2000. Specifically, versions 01.49.000 and prior for the GOT2000 Series models and version 1.295H and prior for GT Designer3 Version1 and GT SoftGOT2000 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows remote unauthenticated attackers to exploit the weak encoding for passwords. This can be done by intercepting encrypted password packets and decrypting them to expose plaintext passwords. The attack vectors typically involve network interactions with compromised systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-0525, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and patching recommendations are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable any unnecessary network services to reduce exposure.
Implement network segmentation to limit unauthorized access.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.
Regularly update passwords to mitigate the risk of exposure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce strong password policies, including regular password changes.
Conduct security awareness training for users to enhance vigilance.
Employ encryption mechanisms with robust algorithms to secure sensitive data transmissions.

Patching and Updates

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation may release patches or updates to address the weak encoding for passwords vulnerability. It is essential to promptly apply these patches to secure the affected products and prevent potential exploitation.