CVE-2023-28697 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability known as "Moxa MiiNePort E1 - Broken Access Control" with the CVE ID CVE-2023-28697 was published on April 27, 2023, by the Taiwan Computer Emergency Response Team (twcert). This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote user to exploit insufficient access control on Moxa MiiNePort E1 devices, potentially leading to unauthorized system operations or service disruption.

Understanding CVE-2023-28697

This section will delve into the details of what CVE-2023-28697 entails, including its impact, technical description, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-28697?

CVE-2023-28697 refers to a security flaw in Moxa MiiNePort E1 devices that allows unauthorized remote access to critical functions due to insufficient access control measures. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to carry out unauthorized system operations or disrupt services.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28697

The impact of CVE-2023-28697 is classified as critical, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. This high severity level is due to the potential for attackers to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, making it crucial to address this vulnerability promptly.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28697

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-28697, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Moxa MiiNePort E1 results from insufficient access control, allowing unauthenticated remote users to exploit critical system functions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted system by CVE-2023-28697 is the Moxa MiiNePort E1 with version 1.7.2 being confirmed as affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without the need for any privileges, leveraging the lack of proper access control to compromise the system integrity, leading to severe consequences.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the security risk posed by CVE-2023-28697, immediate steps should be taken, followed by long-term security practices such as regular updates and patch management.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Moxa MiiNePort E1 devices should promptly update their firmware version to 1.8 to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized access to critical functions.

Long-Term Security Practices

In addition to immediate updates, organizations should enforce robust access control policies, regularly monitor for security vulnerabilities, and educate users on safe cybersecurity practices to enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying patches and updates provided by the vendor is crucial to address known vulnerabilities, enhance system security, and protect against potential exploits like CVE-2023-28697.