CVE-2023-1841 - Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in Honeywell MPA2 Access Panel Allows Attackers to Inject Malicious Code

Honeywell's Multi-Protocol Access (MPA) panel is a popular access control solution used across different industries. In this long read, we will be discussing a critical vulnerability, CVE-2023-1841, found in Honeywell MPA2 Web server modules. The vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) through improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This security flaw affects all versions of the MPA2 Access Panel prior to firmware version R1.00.08.05. Honeywell has released a firmware update, R1.00.08.05, which addresses and resolves this issue.

Vulnerability Details

The CVE-2023-1841 vulnerability is a result of improper neutralization of input during the HTML generation phase in the MPA2 Access Panel's web server modules. This allows an attacker to inject invalid characters, leading to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. The vulnerability is exploitable through sending maliciously crafted HTML or JavaScript code to the affected Honeywell panel. This malicious code is then executed by the panel's web server and can be exploited to hijack user session data or for other nefarious purposes.

The following is a simple example of how an attacker may exploit the CVE-2023-1841 vulnerability

<script>alert('Hacked');</script>

Here, the malicious payload <script>alert('Hacked');</script> will generate an alert box with the message "Hacked" when executed in the context of the affected Honeywell MPA2 Access Panel.

Original References

- CVE-2023-1841 Vulnerability Details
- Honeywell MPA2 Firmware R1.00.08.05 Release Notes

Mitigation and Resolution

Honeywell has released a firmware update to address the CVE-2023-1841 vulnerability. The updated firmware version, R1.00.08.05, corrects the issue by properly neutralizing input during the web page generation phase on the MPA2 Access Panel web server modules. Users are highly recommended to update their Honeywell MPA2 Access Panels to firmware version R1.00.08.05 or higher as soon as possible. Instructions on updating your MPA2 Access Panel can be found in the official documentation.

Conclusion

In summary, the CVE-2023-1841 vulnerability is a severe security issue affecting Honeywell MPA2 Access Panels running firmware versions prior to R1.00.08.05. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) through improperly neutralized input during web page generation. Honeywell has released firmware version R1.00.08.05 to address this vulnerability, and users are highly encouraged to update their panel's firmware accordingly.

Stay vigilant, always keep your systems up to date, and ensure that you apply security best practices to protect your organization's valuable assets.

Timeline

Published on: 02/29/2024 06:15:45 UTC
Last modified on: 04/25/2024 14:15:07 UTC